The ship, originally owned by the Royal Dutch Navy, was sold to Greenpeace during 1981 while in dry dock.

Sirius was refitted with more modern navigation systems, communication equipment, lifeboats, and rafts.

After turning the vessel, the crew sighted distress flares 8 miles from Dragonera Island.

A fourth, skipper Ron Davies of Honor Oak, Lewisham, went down with the yacht when it sank during the rescue.

Sirius continued to search for the missing men and then took the two survivors to Port D'Andratx when she was relieved by a navy patrol boat and a tug sent from Palma.