17-hour mission to save yacht stuck off Cromer coast

The vessel became stuck 40 miles off the Cromer coast after its rudder snapped off leaving the boat unable to steer.

With two to three-metre waves crashing into the yacht, the five-person crew needed urgent help.

The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston all-weather lifeboat (Image: RNLI/ Ben Penning)

Humber Coastguard assembled a team including crews from RNLI Cromer and RNLI Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.

Cromer's all-weather lifeboat was launched at 7.52am on Saturday battling the choppy conditions for two hours before arriving at the yacht.

Due to the risks of being in the Hewett gas field, the decision was made to attempt to tow the boat back to safety.

The choice to tow required help to be deployed from the Great Yarmouth lifeboat Samarbeta, which launched at 4pm, making its way up the east coast.

Eight hours later the tow was handed over to the Great Yarmouth team.

READ MORE: Coastguard sends RNLI lifeboat for man in sea at Cromer Pier

They continued south taking the broken yacht to Great Yarmouth's Town Hall Quay bringing the mission to an end after 17 hours.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat was back in her pen ready for service at 12.30am.

Danny Cherry, Cromer RNLI coxswain said: "Once again our extensive training ensured we were able to assist the yacht and ensure the safety of its five crew.

"With the sea state and the location of the yacht, the safest decision was to tow.

"The crew did a fantastic job on a shout that lasted over 12 hours for us.

"It also demonstrates how we worked as a team with HM Coastguard and our colleagues at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI to locate and safely return the stricken vessel and its crew to shore."