Selsey RNLI lifeboat responds to emergency call from small yacht

The Selsey lifeboat crew was launched after receiving an emergency call from a small yacht on Thursday.

The two people on board reported that they had suffered steering failure 4.5 miles east of Selsey.

The vessel was on passage from Newhaven to Gosport.

The UK Coastguard responded and requested the launch of the Selsey all-weather lifeboat(ALB).

The all weather lifeboat was launched at 5.50pm and made best speed to the yacht.

The communication with the yacht was poor so the coxswain decided to transfer a lifeboat crewman to the yacht with a handheld radio.

He also took some cable ties as the skipper reported the tiller had broke and he had tried unsuccessfully to repair it.

The weather on scene was wind westerly force 2-3 sea state moderate in sunshine.

Once the crewman was on board the yacht he used the cable ties to strengthen the repairs to the tiller.

With these completed a line was passed to the vessel and a tow was established before a course was set for Littlehampton Harbour.

The entrance to Littlehampton was reached at 7.15pm and once inside the harbour the yacht was brought alongside the lifeboat before being safely berthed alongside.