A HEAD injury to a crew member on board a yacht competing in a race off the Isle of Wight this morning (Saturday) led to a callout for Bembridge RNLI.

The Island crew was tasked by UK Coastguard just before midday.

They were called to assist a 32-foot cruiser/racing yacht north of their station with eight crew on board.

The yacht had been participating in the JOG Race around Nab Tower, and had become ‘bladder wrapped’, meaning it got its spinnaker wrapped around its mast.

“It did not take long to reach the yacht, and although neither assistance on board nor a tow were required, to be on the safe side, especially as it turned out that one of crew had suffered a head injury, it was decided to escort her to Gosport Marina,” said a spokesperson for Bembridge RNLI.

“Having seen the yacht safely berthed, and the injured member of the crew handed over to an ambulance, the Alfred Albert Williams returned to Bembridge and was recovered by 15.30 pm.”

RNLB Norman Harvey was tasked at roughly the same time following a report of a man overboard, but the launch was cancelled after the man in difficulty self-recovered.