Cowes RNLI Lifeboat Goes To Aid Of Grounded Ocean Racer

A 40 foot yacht with seven people aboard that went aground today (Friday) in a fresh south-westerly off Gurnard, after engine failure and steering loss, led to Cowes RNLI lifeboat providing much needed assistance.

Following the lifeboat’s launch at 1.20pm its crew discovered the yacht was so firmly aground and anchored that the best option was to wait 20 minutes or so for it to re-float with the incoming tide.

Eventually the yacht was given an alongside tow to Trinity Landing, Cowes.

It was a case of history repeating itself.

Like last year, the yacht had entered the weekend’s Round the Island Race from Cowes.

But on both occasions the yacht encountered a crippling steering problem.