Ben Ainslie and new wife Georgie Thompson finish honeymoon on Necker Island after Richard Branson ship wreck rescue

The newly weds had to call Sir Richard Branson's team for help Credit: PA

Olympic sailing champion Sir Ben Ainslie and his new wife Georgie Thompson have thanked Sir Richard Branson after he rescued them at sea.

The newly-weds had been sailing close to his private island in the British Virgin Islands when their yacht developed mechanical problems.

Members of Necker Island's watersports team had to come aboard and stop the boat being wrecked on a reef.

A very grateful Sir Ben told Sky Sports News:

But that wasn't the end of the story - multimillionaire Sir Richard Branson then invited the couple to continue their honeymoon on Necker Island.

Georgie Thompson, a former television sports presenter, said: "Dinner became a two-day stay which was lovely because right at the end of our honeymoon, having been on a boat for three weeks, I think that was very welcome that we were able to have a couple of days in luxury without any mechanical failures happening onboard."

Sir Ben Ainslie and Georgie Thompson married last month Credit: PA Wire

Sir Ben is the most decorated Olympic sailor in history - an irony that is not lost on Sir Richard Branson. Revealing the rescue on his blog he said: "Ben was able to see the funny side - after all, stranger things have happened at sea."