HAMPSHIRE yachtswoman Dee Caffari was left battling fierce winds and mountainous seas in the Bay of Biscay this morning after her mast snapped leaving her stranded.

The incident, at 6am this morning, occurred about 140-miles west of the Spanish city of La Coruna as Southampton-based sailor was reaching the end of her latest race.

The 34-year-old was just 300-miles from the end of the 4,300 mile Transat Ecover B 2 B race, from Bahia in Brazil to Brittany in France, when the disaster struck.

A spokesman for her team, Aviva Ocean Racing which is based in Fareham, today said Dee was stranded with not enough fuel left in her boat to make it to the nearest port at La Coruna.

They added that the emergency authorities in Spain have been put on stand by for an emergency evacuation at sea if the winds and waves continue at their current levels.

Failing that a boat is due to link up with her stricken yacht tomorrow morning, that should then be able to tow her to safety.

Speaking from onboard Aviva this morning, Dee said: "It was around 6.00am and I was sat in the cuddy in all my gear and wearing my harness.

"I was going upwind at 8-9 knots with three reefs in and a staysail and the weather was severe. Aviva fell off a wave, landed with a massive bang and crash then shuddered. I jumped up on deck to see the mast going over the port side of the boat. I just thought: Oh my god."

She said at this point the mast was banging against the hull of the boat and to avoid serious damage it was imperative to cut the rig away as quickly as possible.

Dee continued: "I had to work out how to cut the mast free while trying to work out what actually happened. The mast broke just above the third reef and it all fell over to the side.

"It took an hour and 25 minutes to get the boat away from the damage. I've still got a boom and a deck spreader but I have a damaged dagger board and a damaged rudder. I am adrift in the wind. I had gusts of 48 knots and it started to ease but it is now back to 47 knots again with big waves.

"I don't really know how I am feeling at the moment - the adrenalin is keeping me going. My hands are cut from using the hacksaw and knives on the rigging but I feel the emotions will kick in later. I feel I'm being stretched to the limit and this is the last sting in the tale.

"I knew the weather was going to be horrible but I didn't expect 50 knots. I was so pleased to be in the Bay of Biscay within 300 miles of being home so I can't believe what has happened. There is no good time for a dismasting - it doesn't matter if you are five miles from the shore or 500 miles from the shore.

"The fact that it happened in bad weather made it quite difficult but if I am on a learning curve, this is the steepest way to do it."