A boat motoring after suffering a dismasting

Faced with a sudden dismasting in 40-knot gusts, Rupert Holmes explains how he and his crew saved his boat, and offers advice for simple safety checks you can make to…

The dismasted yacht. Credit: RNLI/James Bolter

"The crew of the yacht had managed to free the mast, not an easy task in 30 knots of wind" said Mumbles lifeboat deputy second coxswain James Bolter

Dismasted yacht under tow. Credit: RNLI/Ian Cannon

Ramsgate's all weather lifeboat was launched to assist a small yacht which had been dismasted after a collision with a container ship 24 miles east of the town.

Twelve rescued from dismasted yacht. Credit: Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service

Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service rescuers came to the aid of a stricken 40-foot yacht on Saturday, 1 October, when it lost its mast while sailing in the Solent.