A yacht that lost its steerage near the mouth of Beaulieu River yesterday (Wednesday) was towed across the Solent by Cowes lifeboat, afloat on a routine Cowes Week exercise at the time.
The 7.7 metre yacht, with 6 people on board, became unmanageable because of the loss of a metal pin attached to the rudder.
The lifeboat, which began its exercise at 13:27, towed the yacht to the entrance of Cowes Harbour; there a Cowes Harbour launch took over the tow and delivered the boat to Shepards Marina.
The lifeboat eventually returned to station at 16:15.
Though islanders were only bad at driving cars.