The Weymouth lifeboat was launched earlier this afternoon (2) to assist a yacht located just off Portland Bill.

The Weymouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat 'Ernest and Mabel' was launched at 2.30pm.

Solent Coastguard had tasked the lifeboat to go to the assistance of a 35' yacht on passage from Portland to Dartmouth with three people on board which had reported that their back stay had broken and there was the danger of the mast falling down.

Once on scene at 2.50pm the volunteer lifeboat crew in communication with the yacht crew decided that it would be best for the yacht to make her own way back to Weymouth using her engine, while the lifeboat escorted her through to calmer waters and back to Weymouth Harbour arriving at 5pm.

The yacht tied up opposite the lifeboat station and was meet by Wyke Coastguard who offered safety advice to the crew.

The lifeboat returned to berth and made ready for the next shout.