Cowes RNLI lifeboat, while on precautionary patrol in the Solent for powerboat races, was directed to a 32-foot catamaran in danger of sinking this morning (Sunday).
The emergency occurred when the boat, with three people on board, 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 with attaching the tow-line, and then stood by as the committee boat went on to tow the catamaran to Southampton Water.
The lifeboat, which had launched for the race at 10.53am, was dispatched to the catamaran at 11.06pm, and eventually returned to station at 1pm.