A Russian man rescued after a yacht he was sailing in hit rocks off the coast of Scotland is wanted by Norwegian authorities for allegedly stealing it.

Evgeny Dorofeev, 35, appeared in the Extradition Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday after he was held on an international arrest warrant following his rescue near Skerryvore Lighthouse off Tiree in the Inner Hebrides on Tuesday.

Fiscal depute Tom Crosbie told Sheriff Thomas Welsh that Norwegian authorities have made a formal request for Dorofeev's return to their country.

They claimed the Russian national had reached an agreement with the company that owned the yacht to have it for a period on condition that he did not go out with Norwegian waters.

Mr Crosbie said: "He appears to have strayed out of that and is alleged to have stolen the vessel".

The fiscal added the yacht had been valued at 2.5 million Norwegian Krona, about £200,000.

Sheriff Welsh asked if the yacht had been wrecked. Mr Crosie replied: "I am not sure. He was airlifted to HMS Gannet following the incident so that suggests the craft is not seaworthy."

The sheriff said it appeared Dorofeev had the vessel on trial for sailing within Norwegian waters until February 13 and the company claimed he took it out of the country's waters.

Mr Crosbie said: "He certainly strayed beyond their waters."

Solicitor Elaine Clancy said Dorofeev did not consent to extradition. He lived in Russia with his wife and child and was the manager of a large corporation in that country.

She said: "He does not accept what the Norwegians say about his being out of their area. It came as a surprise to him and that he is a responsible person with a wife, child and a good job".

She added he was prepared to obey any conditions imposed by the court, such as signing on at a police station.

Sheriff Welsh told Dorofeev: "At this stage the court has insufficient information to make an informed judgment and on the balance of the information I have received you will be remanded in custody for 28 days and during that time the authorities here will make inquiries with the Norwegian state for further information."