THE accidental deployment of a life raft led to Cowes RNLI lifeboat racing to the aid of a 40-foot yacht on a wind-swept Solent this evening (Friday).

The yacht's crew alerted the coastguard it had a problem.

The coastguard was also contacted by people on the Cowes shore.

When the lifeboat, which launched just after 6pm, arrived on the scene, they found that the life raft container had broken free from the stern, leading to the raft automatically inflating when it hit the water, then releasing its drogue.

The lifeboat crew recovered the raft and drogue.

Then the yacht, based in Southampton, was able to continue on its way westwards.

The lifeboat returned to station soon after 6.30pm.