Three crew were washed over the side of a Legend 36, Mollie Louise, as they battled through 8m seas while on passage from Holland to Grimsby. All were airlifted to safety by a rescue helicopter, but Adrian Piggford, 67, of Cheapside, Waltham, died later in Humber Royal Infirmary.

The boat was 30 miles east of Spurn Head, running under heavily reefed genoa alone when she was hit by heavy seas during a northerly gale. A rescue was launched by Humber Coastguard after a rig support vessel, the Pulford Provider, picked up a signal from the yacht.

Marine Accident Investigation Board officials have begun examining the yacht which was towed into her berth at Meridian Quay Marina, Grimsby Docks. (see Landfalls Hull and the Humber in the October issue of Yachting Monthly).