A veteran British yachtsman has been left embarrassed after attempting a daring overtaking manoeuvre that literally left him high and dry.
Arthur Manning's 36ft yacht Knight Star struck rocks near Saint-Quay-Portrieux in northern France, forcing the skipper to watch as the receding tide left his boat sticking up by its keel.
Mr Manning and his crewmate, who had been racing in a Royal Channel Islands yacht race, had earlier abandoned ship following what they described as an "embarrassing misjudgement".
"We'd consulted local charts but didn't take into account the height of the rocks, or whether there was enough water," he told the Daily Mail.
"The boat ground to a halt and we realised we were grounded — we immediately pulled all the sails down and put on our lifejackets.
"We both feel terrible … nobody likes hitting rocks, so this was very embarrassing."
The boat was later rescued from the rocks having apparently sustained only light damage.
The Knight Star was back floating again at high tide.
A French crewman involved in the rescue of the two sailors said the boat had escaped remarkably unscathed.
"We got the two Englishmen aboard and out of harm's way, but could do nothing for the yacht as it rose higher and higher into the sky," he said.
"The two crew members were uninjured, although I do think their pride might have taken a bit of a battering."
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