HMS Mersey Helps Stricken Yacht In Solent
The vessel deployed a seaboat, five minutes after receiving a call for help.
Royal Navy ship HMS Mersey has helped a stricken yacht in the Solent whilst she was training at anchor.
On Sunday, the River-class offshore patrol vessel deployed a seaboat to assist the yacht that had made an urgent call after heading into difficulties.
The seaboat crew helped the Elizabeth Star set up a tow with another yacht that had also responded to the signal.
The boat was then towed into Gosport Marina.
Able Seaman Orin Mann, the seaboat coxswain, said: "If it wasn’t for the teamwork of Mersey’s ship’s company and the crew of Sailing Grace, then things could have been a lot worse."
The crew of the Elizabeth Star got into difficulty after losing steering in Spithead.
Lieutenant Commander Will Edwards-Bannon, HMS Mersey's Commanding Officer, said he was "very proud" of his team's response.
Earlier this month, HMS Mersey helped shadow a Russian submarine as it travelled through the Strait of Dover and into the North Sea.
Cover image: HMS Mersey (Picture: Royal Navy).