COWES RNLI was tasked to help a yacht which had run aground in Beaulieu this afternoon (Tuesday).

The stations lifeboat, Sheena Louise, launched at 4.20pm to attend the scene at the entrance to Beaulieu River.

After an hour of waiting for a sufficient rise in the water level for the vessel to float off, Cowes RNLI towed the yacht off the mudbank into deeper water.

The crew of five on the 32ft yacht made their own way back to Cowes.