Stranded yacht Sea Scamp, which ran aground off Thorness. Picture by Owen Buggy of plugphotography.com/
A CLASSIC yacht ran aground during a race yesterday (Sunday), leaving it stranded on a ledge.
The 41 foot yacht Sea Scamp went aground on Quarry Ledge, near Thorness Bay, at some point after 7pm.
Cowes and Yarmouth RNLI came to the aid of the Bermudan-rigged sloop, with support from Needles Auxiliary Coastguard.
Rescue crews used the yacht's anchor to help stabilise the stricken boat and left the scene once the boat was secure.
The yacht and its crew of six then had to wait hours until high tide to refloat.
Cowes RNLI returned after midnight to ensure the boat refloated safely and then escorted it back to Cowes, where it was due to be inspected for damage.
Cowes RNLI's youngest helmsman Max Rimington, 19, helmed the boat for both trips.
"Despite having very little sleep he was back at work for South Boats this morning," said a spokesman.
Sea Scamp was built in Germany in 1936, with the name Zeisig, and was used by the Luftwaffe for navigation training. After the war it was taken as reparation by the Royal Navy, but since 1984 it has been sailed by the Sea Scamp Syndicate.
Picture by Owen Buggy of plugphotography.com/