An unprepared yachtsman was rescued from
the North Sea when he became disorientated after setting off without any safety equipment or
navigation aids.

The skipper of ECC Opal
contacted the Coastguard after the sailor approached the workboat and asked how
to get to Hull.

When the Cromer independent lifeboat (pictured above) reached the yacht, they
found the sailor was disorientated and had no VHF radio, flares, GPS, charts or
other safety and navigation equipment on board.

Dave Moore, watch officer at Yarmouth Coastguard, said the emergency service
sees an increase in these kinds of incidents as the weather improves.

“This incident was the third in the last few weeks
involving recently purchased craft that were inadequately prepared for the
sea,” he said. “People get over enthusiastic with their new purchase and often
overestimate their ability and underestimate the possible dangers.”

The yacht was taken under tow by the Cromer lifeboat who handed the tow to
Wells RNLI inshore lifeboat and transferred her to Yarmouth.