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Lone yachtsman found asleep drifting in windfarm

Bob DaleSouth East
News imageShoreham RNLI A view of the bow of a yacht, with a mast and railings at the front and the lights of a harbour in the distance during darkness.Shoreham RNLI
The yacht was found drifting with its skipper asleep

A missing solo yachtsman has been found by a lifeboat crew "asleep and exhausted" aboard his vessel as he drifted in an offshore windfarm.

An RNLI crew from Shoreham in West Sussex was called on Saturday evening to reports of a missing vessel which had left Southampton earlier in the day.

The 32ft (10m) yacht was found 10 miles (16km) offshore with its cabin lights on, drifting in and out of the Rampion wind farm.

Two members of the lifeboat crew were put aboard and, other than being exhausted, the skipper was found to be unharmed.

News imageShoreham RNLI A view from the deck of a yacht, looking out to sea, with harbour lights in the distance.Shoreham RNLI
The yacht was found drifting in the Rampion windfarm

A helicopter had also been called to the scene, but was stood down after it was found the yachtsman did not need medical attention. the RNLI said.

The yacht had left Southampton earlier in the day and was on its way to Hartlepool.

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