Two yachtsmen were left drifitng in their liferaft 25 miles south of St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight after their yacht, Lycaena, sank.

One of them was rescued by the Solent Coastguard helicopter another was taken off by the yacht Challenger 44.

The Solent Coastguard helicopter scrambled after being alerted by the casualty’s EPIRB, then, en route, sighted a red flare. Both yachtsmen were in foul weather gear and lifejackets. The yachtsman airlifted has been taken to hospital and a Coastguard rescue team are due to meet the other one when the yacht docks at Ocean Village, Southampton.