A father and son team were racing their yacht to the Fastnet Rock in the early hours of 17 June when they were hit by a large wave.

Thrown into the water, the harnesses they were wearing allowed them to clamber back onboard, but their mast was broken and they were left in darkness. Baltimore’s Tyne class lifeboat Hilda Jarrett was launched just before 3am and the crew was soon on scene, checking the men’s condition and setting up a tow. The yacht’s skipper says: ‘The lifeboat crew were very quick and professional. We felt very supported.’