A SEARCH and rescue aircraft has made contact with a solo round-the-world yachtsman who is floating in a life raft in remote waters after abandoning his vessel southwest of Tasmania.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) says the man was located in his life raft in remote waters on Friday night, about 946km from Hobart.

The sailor, believed to have been at sea for several months, had abandoned his yacht after it lost its mast and suffered hull damage in rough conditions.

A second life raft containing communications equipment has been dropped to him, an AMSA spokeswoman said.

She said contact had been made with the Frenchman but officers were not able to get much information because he spoke very little English.

A second search and rescue plane, with French-speaking Victoria Police officers onboard, was on its way to the scene to monitor the man overnight and try to make contact with any nearby vessels that could rescue him, she said.

Shipping in the area has been alerted and the Orion cruise liner is making its way to assist the man but is still two days away, the spokeswoman said.

"It is incredibly remote waters, a very, very remote area," she said.

Originally published as Solo yachtsman in raft off Tasmania