The five-strong crew aboard a yacht named Exocet were rendered completely harmless to fellow Cowes Week racers yesterday (Saturday) when they suddenly discovered their rudder had broken off.
As the 21ft yacht tossed and turned in a heavy swell from Gurnard Bay to off Egypt Point, it appeared that at any minute someone could be flung into the sea. But then help arrived in the shape of Cowes RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, and the helpless yacht, based at Warsash, was taken in tow back to Trinity Landing, Cowes.
Cowes lifeboat happened to be on its regular safety patrol for the regatta at the time of the incident, which began just before 16:00.
