Yacht left drifting in Solent's busy shipping lane

The 26ft Iszare suffered a power failure in the Solent between Osborne Bay off the Isle of Wight and Fishbourne, near Peel Bank.

The lone sailor found he had no power, lights or VHF radio after several attempts to start the engine. The man, who had been sailing from Southampton to Hayling Island, alerted HM Coastguards on his mobile phone.

News of an unlit yacht in the shipping lane concerned Southampton’s port authority because of the impending arrival of a ship.

The lifeboat from Cowes launched at 8pm on Saturday and towed the yacht to safety.