At 1125 on Sunday, coastguards at Dover received a mayday distress message from the trimaran Amfitrite.

The skipper reported that his vessel had suffered major structural damage off the south coast, losing one of the outriggers. The seven crew required immediate evacuation.

Trinity Lighthouse Vessel Vectis and the warship HMS Tyne together with a Dutch yacht responded with assistance. The Rye Harbour and Dungeness RNLI Lifeboats were alerted and launched to rescue the crew.

The yacht, Silver Lining, was first on scene and stood by until the Rye Harbour Lifeboat arrived to take a number of the crew off the stricken vessel.

Dungeness Lifeboat arrived on scene and stabilised Amfitrite before taking her in tow for Dover.