A YACHT in distress in the Bristol Channel off the Exmoor coastline was rescued by a Minehead Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) crew on Good Friday evening (April 18).

The single-manned sailing vessel put out a distress call after its propeller was fouled north east of Lynmouth, which was picked up by HM Coastguard shortly after 5 pm.

The Minehead RNLI station immediately launched its Atlantic class lifeboat Penny J II and made good speed toward Lynmouth, where the crew located the yacht and set up a tow line.

They towed the vessel into Minehead Harbour, safely tying up on a visitor mooring just after 7 pm and took the skipper ashore for a much-needed cup of tea and warm up in the boathouse.