COWES LIFEBOAT ANSWERS CALL FOR HELP FROM RUDDERLESS YACHT

Cowes RNLI lifeboat was called upon to assist on 2 occasions this morning (Thursday) – the 1st to tow in a yacht that had lost its steering and then to help secure a boat tender that had broken adrift in the River Medina. The lifeboat was launched at 11:10 to go to the aid of a 37ft yacht with 5 people aboard that had lost its rudder East of Cowes Harbour. Although initially assisted by another yacht, the lifeboat crew went aboard to arrange an alongside tow. Believed to be from the River Itchen, the disabled yacht was delivered to Trinity Landing. The 2nd call was to help recover an unmanned tender which was adrift in the River Medina. But when the lifeboat arrived in the area the crew found that it had been safely secured by another vessel. The lifeboat returned to station soon after midday.