HMS York rescued four civilians in a sea drama off the south-west English coast.
The Mary Flora yacht, with four people aboard, lost all power and attempts to contact her failed after she sent a distress signal, until the destroyer located her 18 miles of Berry Head, Brixham.
HMS York was taking part in military exercises nearby and stood by the yellow-hulled yacht until the Torbay lifeboat could reach her. Bruce Lack, coastguard watch manager at Portland Coastguard, said: “We are very grateful to the Navy warship HMS York for their assistance in identifying and locating the yacht.”
The drama began when Portland Coastguard picked up a weak distress call over VHF radio after dark, but could not locate where it was coming from.
Then HMS York launched a Lynx helicopter, which tracked the signal to the Mary Flora and the warship steamed to the scene to work with the Torbay lifeboat.
The Mary Flora had lost her sails and suffered engine failure and was unable to move. None of the four people aboard was injured.
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