Chile ? A Chilean navy search plane has spotted an American solo sailor on his storm-battered yacht off the southern tip of South America, and a trawler was heading to rescue him, the military said Thursday.

Ken Barnes, of Newport Beach, Calif., also made visual contact with the pilots from his yacht, which has two broken masts and a disabled engine, the navy said.

Barnes, 47, set off from Long Beach, Calif., on Oct. 28 in a 44-foot ketch called the Privateer in hopes of sailing around the world. His girlfriend, Cathy Chambers, said he called her Tuesday in California on his satellite phone to say he was in trouble due to a storm.

He told Chambers he had lost engine power and steering and had two broken masts and broken hatches. The Privateer also was taking on water in 46 mph winds and 25-foot swells, she said.