Cowes RNLI played its part in dealing with a whole host of incidents on the wind-swept Solent today, by towing a badly holed open day boat back to Cowes.
The lifeboat was told by Solent Coastguards that an X One Design, Moonfleet, had radioed it was holed off Browndown, near Gosport, and was taking on water. When the lifeboat, with Richard O’Callaghan at the helm, arrived it was found Moonfleet had two holes on the port side.
To help prevent more water pouring into the XOD’s hull the three-man crew was asked to sit on the starboard side while the lifeboat began the long tow through choppy seas back to Cowes. Moonfleet was eventually taken to Lallows boatyard for repairs.
It is understood the holes were caused in a collision with another Cowes Week racer in the 140 strong XOD fleet.
