Rescue crews tow drifting cabin cruiser to safety in Solent

The pleasure craft, which had four people on board, had suffered engine failure near Horse Sand Fort and was drifting in the main shipping channel at lunchtime today.

A volunteer crew from Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (Gafirs) was paged at 1pm by the Coastguard.

Coxswain Brian Pack said: ‘We soon located the stricken vessel, which was drifting near much larger craft, and placed a crewman on board.

‘He discovered that the vessel had suffered a fuel leak which had caused it to lose power so we quickly rigged a towline and pulled the vessel to safety.’

Gafirs towed the boat to Gosport Marina where it was placed safely alongside with the help of Hillhead Mobile Coastguard team.

The operation lasted just over two hours and was the service’s 13th of the year.