A training exercise turned into a real life rescue for the crew of Cowes RNLI last night (Monday).
A 27-foot yacht lost power off East Cowes when a mooring line became wrapped around a propeller.
To stop it drifting into a shipping lane, the father and son on board dropped the anchor.
When the lifeboat, alerted by Coastguards, arrived at the scene they found that a Royal Yacht Association boat had already arrived to assist. Although preparations were then made for the lifeboat to tow the yacht to Cowes, there was another problem to overcome - all efforts to raise the anchor were unsuccessful.
The only solution, decided lifeboat helm Ady Stothard, was to obtain the permission of Portsmouth Queen’s Harbour Master for the anchor chain to be cut loose and left on the sea bed.
The yacht, which was based at Portsmouth, was towed to Trinity Landing, and the lifeboat which had been at sea for two hours, returned to station at 9.30 pm.