THIS 41-foot yacht was left floundering in The Solent this afternoon (Monday) after becoming dismasted.

Lifeboat crews from Cowes and Gosport raced to assist the four crew onboard the charter yacht, Amalie, which suffered damage north of Osborne Bay.

A Cowes RNLI spokesman said the rescue operation involved cutting the mast and rigging free as it was causing damage to the yacht.

The yacht was towed to Haslar Marina, Gosport, while the partially-submerged mast and rigging, which had become a hazard to shipping, was taken to Ryde Middle Bank.

It is due to be recovered by a commercial vessel.

Nobody was injured.