A TRAINING session became a real operation for the crew of Cowes RNLI lifeboat on Tuesday evening, when they broke-off to go to the aid of two yachts aground on The Bramble Bank near the entrance to Southampton Water.

Although the crew of one yacht managed to free it from the bank, the other one, owned by the Cowes-based UKSA, was stuck fast. It is understood that at the time both were involved in a race.

By using the yacht’s crew to lean their vessel over, the lifeboat was able to pull it off the sand and then carry out an along-side tow back to Cowes.

The lifeboat, which had launched from the station at 7 pm, arrived back shortly before 10 pm.