Lifeboat crew come to aid of stricken yacht

A Dutch sailor who had visited Lowestoft on numerous occasions had to be helped into its port by the town's lifeboat crew after his sail became stuck.

The solo sailor on a 10-metre yacht had nearly reached his destination, after setting out from the Netherlands, when he tried to furl his sail ready to enter Lowestoft's port on Friday night only to find the sail would not budge.

RNLI area lifesaving manager Lee Firman said 'The volunteer lifeboat crew were called just after 6.30pm to help the sailor who was in difficulties about a three quarters of a mile from the harbour entrance. I put trainee Coxswain Michael Robbins in charge of the lifeboat for the callout and it was a good training shout for him.

'On reaching the yacht the skipper told us that he could not furl the sail single-handedly and this was making steering difficult. The sail was stuck and he couldn't control the boat because the wind was pushing it around. Two of the lifeboat crew transferred to vessel, to give assistance by stopping the sail flapping. We then safely escorted the yacht into port where it was met by the Lowestoft Coastguard Rescue Team.'