WORKING in the dark and the rough seas, Yarmouth RNLI responded to a MayDay from a single-handed sailor overnight.

Yarmouth’s Severn class all weather lifeboat, Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer), was sent by HM Coastguard at 9.11pm last night (Saturday) to a 42ft yacht, located 14 miles south of the Needles.

The boat was reported to have engine failure with the only crew member on board suffering from an injury.

Yarmouth RNLI’s volunteer crew headed west out of Yarmouth harbour where they worked alongside the Search and Rescue 175 helicopter.

A paramedic was winched onto the lifeboat to treat the casualty.

Yarmouth Lifeboat deployed the Y-boat to put crew members on board the sailing yacht to assess the situation.

The sailor was disabled by severe seasickness, extreme cold and fatigue, and was transferred to the lifeboat along with the paramedic.

The two lifeboat crew members remained on board the sailing yacht and prepared to sail it back to Yarmouth.

Working in the dark, with 20 knots of westerly wind and moderate to rough sea conditions, the decision was taken for Yarmouth RNLI to make good speed to bring the sick sailor to the safety of Yarmouth harbour by boat and transfer the winchman to the helicopter in the shelter of the Solent before recovering the broken down yacht.

The lifeboat arrived back in Yarmouth just before 1am. The casualty was brought ashore and a change of volunteer lifeboat crew was made before the lifeboat made its way back to the south of the Isle of Wight to escort the stricken vessel.

As the conditions remained rough, it was safer for the boat to be sailed back rather than being taken under tow for the three and a half hour passage.

On arrival at the entrance to the harbour an alongside tow was established to safely moor the boat.

Yarmouth Lifeboat returned to her berth and was ready for service at 4.45am

Thanks to Teresa Fox, Yarmouth RNLI's press officer, for her report.