Cowes RNLI lifeboat raced to help two young men aboard a yacht this afternoon (Friday) after they radioed Solent Coastguard to say they were in danger of being in the path of an approaching container ship.
The 6.5 metre yacht, on passage from Lymington to its home port of Hamble, was unable to make headway because winds were too light for sailing and the engine had failed. The incident occurred in the vicinity of the Thorn Channel at the entrance to Southampton Water, just as the near-153,000 tonne Hyundai Dream was approaching down the Solent.
Launched at 14:31, the lifeboat dashed across the Solent to the crippled boat and took it in tow to Shepards Wharf Marina, Cowes. Meanwhile the Hyundia Dream proceeded on to Southampton without incident.
