Natasha Lambert was met by Cowes lifeboat as the teenager, who has acute cerebral palsy, started on the last leg of her round the Isle of Wight sailing challenge today. After dealing with a speed boat in trouble in Osborne Bay, the lifeboat proceeded further east to await the arrival off Ryde Pier of the yacht, being operated by the 15 year old using just her mouth.

Then as her distinctively coloured boat hove into view the lifeboat, with Max Rimington at the helm, joined the other escort craft on the proud procession back to Cowes.

Natasha took some 12 hours to circumnavigate the Island, and as she completed the task three loud cheers from the many well-wisher echoed across the mouth of Cowes
Harbour.

The RNLI was one of three charities chosen by Natashsa to benefit from her 60 mile circuit, the others being Isle of Wight Scope and the Ellen MacArthur Trust.

The speed boat requiring the lifeboat’s assistance earlier in the day had engine failure in Osborne Bay. The boat, with a couple and three young children on board, was towed to the Town Quay, Cowes.