LIFEBOAT volunteers swung into action to assist a stricken yacht off the Somerset coast.
Burnham-on-Sea RNLI responded to a call from the two crew members on the 30-foot yacht from Portishead that was stranded near Hinkley Point.
The drama unfolded when its anchor winch broke and the craft released its anchor and chain.
It left the yacht effectively at anchor and the crew members, unable to raise the anchor, contacted the Coastguard for assistance.
Burnham-on-sea volunteer crews were paged at 2.35pm yesterday (Monday, May 29) and quickly launched the station Atlantic 85 lifeboat, reaching the yacht at just past 3pm.
Lifeboat helmsman Nick Prout said: "Retrieving the anchor and chain proved difficult in the force 3-4 breeze and one to two metre swell, so we eventually took over the anchor line, and placed a small marker buoy, to assist recovery at low tide.
"The casualty vessel was then able to proceed independently.
"We were glad to be able to help."
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