Lifeboat rescues sailor after breakdown in gale force winds
Dawn Hodge and Steve Stimson A sailor has been rescued by an RNLI lifeboat crew after their yacht suffered engine failure in high winds off the Isle of Wight.
Bembridge RNLI said the 35ft (10.6m) sailing yacht was found in difficulty in gale force winds off Ryde shortly before 03:15 GMT.
Another vessel stopped to keep an eye on the yacht in the rough conditions while the lifeboat arrived.
The yacht and sailor were towed by the lifeboat and berthed at Gosport Marina.
Dawn Hodge and Steve Stimson The lifeboat crew said as "conditions were quite rough in the Force 7, gusting Gale Force 8 Westerly wind..... a tow, the safest option, was quickly set up."
The crew said the yacht and lone sailor were "safely berthed" in the marina at about 04:20.
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