A lifeboat was called to a sailing boat with five passengers in distress off the Great Yarmouth coast in the early hours.
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat Station sent its ALB ‘Windsor Runner Civil Service No. 42’ to a boat in difficulty approximately seven miles east from Great Yarmouth beach just before 3.30am on Sunday, May 21.
The lifeboat went to the last-known location of the vessel and then found it using radar and lookouts, with radio communication then established with them.
The stricken 'Vanity' sailing boat had five people onboard and it had become unstable due to a broken securing line to the main mast.
A line was thrown to them and a tow was established, with the lifeboat crew conducting welfare checks using radio communication.
All five were "fatigued due to a rather choppy sea" but were well enough to manage the tow back to shore at Gorleston Pierheads.
The tow was dropped when both vessels reached the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI Station and the damaged boat was escorted to Town Hall Quay.
Members of the coastguard were waiting at the quay to assist with mooring, with the lifeboat crew standing down at 7.15am.
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