A LIFEBOAT was launched over the weekend after a man fell overboard from a yacht during a training exercise.

A 54-year-old man fell from the yacht just outside Cowes breakwater on Saturday morning when the guard rail he leaned on at the bow of the 36-foot boat suddenly gave way.

Although the man, who was wearing a lifejacket, was rescued by the yacht within minutes, there was sufficient concern about his condition for a call to be made to coastguards.

A Cowes RNLI lifeboat was launched at 9.14 am with Mark Harker at the helm.

The boat came alongside the yacht to put aboard crew-member Dr Will King, who carried out an assessment on the man.

The 54-year-old had swallowed seawater although remained conscious.

When the yacht arrived at Trinity Landing the man was taken to a waiting ambulance to undergo a further examination.

The man did not need to go to hospital and eventually returned to the yacht when it set sail for Hamble.

The yacht was involved in a Royal Yachting Association training course at the time of the incident.