A YACHT escaped its moorings, ran aground and sank off Portland Breakwater.

While heading out on routine training on Tuesday evening, Wyke Reis Coastguard Rescue team spotted the yacht in Portland Harbour.

On investigation it was found the yacht had broken its anchor line and was drifting towards the Portland Breakwater.

The Wyke team called the incident into the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) and they tasked Weymouth inshore lifeboat to go out and attend the incident.

A spokesman for the Wyke coastguard team said: “The team kept observations on the boat and confirmed that we could see no signs of movement on the yacht.

“Shortly before the arrival of the inshore lifeboat the boat ran aground on the breakwater. The coastguard team tried to find a break in the horrendous conditions to allow access but were forced to abandon all attempts.”

The lifeboat crew tried to get a line onto the boat to secure it but couldn’t. So the lifeboat team went to the calm side of the breakwater and managed to get a crew member ashore and onto land via the breakwater.

The crew member confirmed that no-one was onboard and the vessel was securely shut up.

The lifeboat and the coastguard rescue team were stood down and all the authorities were informed of the position of the boat.

However, unfortunately due to the bad conditions the boat later succumbed to the elements and sank.

A spokesman for the NMOC confirmed there was no-one on the yacht. She said: “It had come off its moorings and it was deemed unsafe to try and move it at that time.”

The NMOC spokesman confirmed that they were in contact with the owner of the yacht and were waiting to speak to them later to arrange recovery.