Cowes RNLI lifeboat was tasked to assist a 24ft yacht in difficulty on the Solent yesterday afternoon (Saturday).
HM Coastguard requested the help of Cowes’ Atlantic 85 class lifeboat at just before 16:30 after being made aware of the plight of a yacht on passage from Gosport to Christchurch.
Initially it was reported that the yacht had engine problems and that the skipper was unable to lower the sails or drop anchor.
By the time Cowes Lifeboat has arrived alongside the casualty yacht, the skipper had got the vessel into the Beaulieu River and had got the sails down, making very slow progress using a small engine which kept cutting out.
At some point the vessel’s VHF radio had failed which meant the lifeboat crew had to find the yacht first.
The lifeboat took the yacht in an alongside tow up to Bucklers Hard and a safe berth.
