A 32ft yacht was dismasted yesterday after its rigging became entangled in No 3 Marker Post in the Lymington River in torrential rain.

The yacht, with a husband and wife crew, was on passage to Cowes, and had just unfurled its genoa before a torrential rain squall reduced visibility and caused a collision with a marker post.

The substantial navigation mark was undamaged but as the
yacht was brought to an abrupt halt by its snared rig, she slewed round and the mast broke,
sending both sections over the side.

The RNLI’s Lymington lifeboat helped to release the mast and secure it on board the yacht, which later continued her cruise under power.