Cowes RNLI lifeboat launched during the early hours of this morning (Wednesday) to a 12m motor yacht that had ran out of fuel off Egypt Point.
A PAN PAN alert was issued by the casualty yacht after she dropped anchor and paid out all of her 45m of chain, but appeared to be dragging. The motor yacht’s position meant the tide could push it into the busy main shipping channel.
Solent Coastguard requested the launch of Cowes Lifeboat at 01:40 and a short while later the boat, crewed by volunteers, hit the water.
The lifeboat towed the motor yacht to the fuel barge on the River Medina and then placed it alongside. The rescued crew waited for the barge to open this morning and are expected to return to Portsmouth today.
14 volunteer members of the station responded to the pager and by the time the lifeboat had been washed down and refuelled they could return home shortly before dawn broke.
