Concern that a crippled yacht could be in the path of a cruise liner gave Cowes RNLI lifeboat and even more urgent reason to go to its aid last night (Thursday.)
While the lifeboat was on exercise in the Solent it was alerted at 7.45 pm by coastguards that a 20-foot yacht had suffered a steering failure in the shipping channel near North-East Gurnard Buoy.
After ensuring that a Southampton Harbour patrol launch in the area warned an approaching cruise ship about the yacht the lifeboat eventually began an alongside tow to Cowes.
Meanwhile, the harbour launch provided an escort to reduce the wake in what were lively sea conditions.
The yacht, with four people on board, was duly delivered to Trinity Landing, and the lifeboat returned to station at 8.45pm.