A YACHTSMAN on an early hours of the morning voyage to the south of England was rescued by the RNLI on Saturday.

The man was on passage from South Queensferry to Dorset and was attempting to reach Eyemouth when his boat suffered engine failure at about 2am.

Although he tried to restart the engine, the increasing swell made conditions difficult and he called the Coastguard for help.

Dunbar’s RNLI crew were alerted at 3am, with the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) launched just after 3.35am and on scene 15 minutes later.

After assessing all available options, coxswain Gary Fairbairn decided the best course of action was to tow the 23-foot vessel to Dunbar Harbour.

East Lothian Courier: Dunbar RNLI were called out in the early hours of Saturday morning to help a yacht which had lost power. Image: Dunbar RNLIDunbar RNLI were called out in the early hours of Saturday morning to help a yacht which had lost power. Image: Dunbar RNLI

A tow was set up and the boats started their journey at 4.10am, reaching Dunbar at 5.05am, where the yacht was safely berthed.

Mr Fairbairn praised the man for getting in touch and said the incident highlighted the dangers of sailing at night in commercial shipping lanes – and the importance of being seen at sea in the hours of darkness.

He added: “Drifting in an area busy with ships coming in and out of the Forth could have been dangerous.

“It was a small vessel and not easily seen in those conditions.”

The ALB was back at Torness and refuelled and ready for service at 7am.