A LUXURY yacht was stranded in a busy shipping channel yesterday whilst competing in the Solent's huge Round the Island race.

The 40ft vessel lost its steering near Ventnor whilst carrying 12 people. It was rescued by a lifeboat on a dramatic day for the crews.

Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) put a crewman on board and towed it back to Gosport marina. Unusually it was towed by the stern, as the faulty steering sent the yacht veering dangerously from side to side.

It was one of three emergency calls during 13 hours during the race, one of the largest in the world, in which hundreds competed and the winners broke Sir Ben Ainslie's record.

The first call for help came at 9am when a family of four's 40ft Sealine’s engines failed in the path of passing ferries.

Gosport’s Independent Lifeboat towed the vessel from Gilkicker Point to Gosport Marina.

Coxswain Peter Brown said: “The vessel dwarfed the lifeboat and was tricky to manoeuvre in the strong winds, but we managed to safely get it alongside and the family on board back on to dry land.

“We always knew the afternoon was the danger time for us as the Island racers approached the Forts, and so it was as we had a busy shift right into the evening.”

The last casualty was a 21ft sailing vessel which had also lost steering. GAFIRS met Bembridge Lifeboat at No Man’s Land Fort and took over the tow. The vessel was safely brought into Portsmouth Harbour and tied up securely alongside at Gosport Marina.