PORTLAND coastguard was called out to a false alarm after they were alerted to a missing yacht this morning.
The 36ft yacht left Weymouth yesterday morning on a voyage to Poole with five people on board, but contact could not be made with the vessel and crew had not been in touch with authorities since yesterday evening.
The coastguard requested that Poole lifeboat was launched to assist coastguard teams in the search for the missing yacht.
The lifeboat successfully found the yacht just before midday secured to a mooring near Northhaven Yacht Club in Poole Harbour.
A volunteer lifeboat crew member boarded the yacht to check if anyone was on board or if there was a tender still with the vessel, but the yacht was secure and there was no-one on board.
The lifeboat crew made further enquiries at a local yacht club before it was confirmed the occupants were safe and onshore.
The search was stood down and the lifeboat returned to the station before the coastguard passed on ‘suitable advice’ to the skipper.
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