An
urgent message from a 35ft yacht that it had sprung a leak led to Cowes
RNLI lifeboat making an emergency dash across the Solent.

The Mistral radioed Solent Coastguards that it was taking on water through the engine shaft while off Lepe Spit.

The call out occurred just after
midday today. When
the lifeboat arrived on the scene the helm, local boat-builder Patrick
Moreton, went aboard to confirm assurances from the four-strong yacht
crew that the leak was being adequately dealt with by their bilge pump.

The yacht was towed by the lifeboat to the entrance of Hamble
River, where the tow was continued by a Hamble Services RIB into
a Hamble boatyard.

Picture: A file pic of the Solent