The Yarmouth lifeboat, The Eric and Susan Hiscock was called to assist a 32ft yacht, Starburst, in difficulties close to the Needles, Isle of Wight in a southerly Force 10 storm.

Coxswain, Howard Lester, said the wind was gusting 49 knots. In that area the seas are particularly vicious as the sea bed is uneven and the tides of the Solent and Channel meet.

Starburst,on passage from Poole to Lymington, had been blown across the treacherous Shingles bank and was experiencing mechanical and steering gear problems.

There were six people on board and mountainous seas made the lifeboat’s task extremely hazardous coupled with fact that the rescue coincided with low water.

Eventually a tow was established and Stardust was brought safely into Yarmouth.