Cowes RNLI lifeboat, while on precautionary patrol in the Solent for powerboat races from Cowes this morning (Sunday), had to come to the rescue of a sinking catamaran.
The emergency occurred when the boat – with 3 people aboard – began to take on water off Newtown Creek, while participating in the Cowes-Poole-Cowes event.
First on the scene was a race committee boat, which called for the event’s pilot vessel to tow the catamaran into shallow water.
The lifeboat assisted by attaching the tow-line, before standing by as the committee boat went on to tow the catamaran to safety in Southampton Water.
The lifeboat, which had launched for the race at 10:53, was dispatched to the catamaran at 11:06, and eventually returned to station at 13:00.
