Cowes RNLI rounded off its daily operations throughout Cowes Week by using the whole of its engine power to tow a large yacht off sands at the mouth of the Beaulieu River today.

The 42 foot yacht, Way Beyond, with five people on board, had gone aground at a low Spring tide late afternoon. Lifeboat helm Max Rimington had to put the lifeboat’s twin 115 hp outboards into full throttle to get the yacht moving off the sand. It still took around half an hour, however, before the yacht was fully afloat once again.

Way Beyond had been on its way from Beaulieu to Southampton when the grounding occurred.