by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A MAN who capsized in horrendous conditions in the Atlantic revealed his boat had washed ashore two years on.

Ross Hobson, of Ponteland, was taking part in the Route du Rhum yacht race in November 2006 when his catamaran, named Mollymawk, was flipped over in high seas.

He was rescued by a freighter called Carmen after enduring eight hours alone in the darkness of the upturned hull.

And two years later, his battered boat was found washed up on a beach in the Bahamas.

Mollymawk was found on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, 250 miles east of Miami, Florida, and 2,000 miles west of where it capsized.

Mr Hobson, a senior lecturer at Newcastle Universitys Dental School, said he had mixed emotions on hearing of the boats reappearance.

He said: The hull, although superficially in good condition, is unfortunately irreparable.

I have asked for a few things to be removed from her bef

ore she is broken up and buried and the shifting sands of the Bahamas are likely to claim her very soon.

Its terrific she has turned up, but its a real shock to the system and its very sad as well because Id hoped she would turn up and not be so badly damaged. The boat was discovered by Margit Stingl, who is living and building a home on the island.

Ms Stingl at first thought the wreckage was that of an aircraft, but Mollymawks true identity was soon established.

Mr Hobson, 51, who lives with his wife Sally, 49, and h

as two sons 21-year-old Peter and 19-year-old Simon said memories of the ordeal still live with him. He said: I was making decisions that really were life and death decisions. I was thinking do I really need this piece of equipment or should it go overboard? You really didnt know how much time there was.

It changes your idea of what risk-taking is.

Mollymawk won Mr Hobson international acclaim in yacht races around the UK and North Atlantic, climaxing in a trans-Atlantic world record crossing from Bermuda to Plymouth in September 2005.

Now his son Peter, fresh from graduating from Newcastle University with a first class honours degree in naval architecture, is to construct a new boat to replace the vessel.

Mr Hobson said: It hasnt dampened my spirits at all. I still love the sea and its been frustrating not being able to sail for the past two years. Now Peter is going to build his dad a new boat, so were looking forward to being able to sail again.