Yachtsman Graham Goff was back in Britain today after being rescued from the stricken £4.5 million catamaran Team Philips.

The Chichester sailor was among the crew led by skipper Peter Goss which flew into Heathrow from Canada.

Earlier this week they had to abandon the vessel in mountainous waves in the North Atlantic.

Mr Goff, who has two young children, Kayley and Lucy, was among the team members flanking Mr Goss as they made their way wearily through the arrivals area at Heathrow.

The team said the boat was damaged by a unique weather formation which could not have been predicted. They said they were saved by its strong design.

But they had feared for their lives during the dangerous rescue by a German container ship.

Mr Goss said: "We wouldn't be here now if it hadn't been for the Team Philips. I would gladly go out on her again in similar conditions, although I obviously would not choose to be in those conditions.

"It was a very frightening time. We had a real battering. There really wasn't a lot we could do about it."

He added: "It's good to be home."

The revolutionary boat, designed by Adrian Thompson and built at Totnes in Devon, has been plagued by setbacks.

One of its bows snapped off during sea trials in March and then problems developed with the bearings on her giant masts.

In October, crew member Mike Calvin quit, saying the boat was not ready to tackle the waves of the Southern Ocean.

Team Philips set out on more sea trials and it was after eight successful days of sailing that the latest catastrophe struck.

The catamaran is adrift 650 miles west of Ireland and all hope of her entering The Race, a round-the-world event starting on December 31, have been scuppered.