By Isle of Wight ObserverCowes lifeboat spent two hours searching in thick fog this morning (September 27) for yachts that had been torn from their moorings by an outgoing car ferry.
The lifeboat launched at 7am when the fog in the harbour was down to less than 50 metres.
It was apparent that the ship had ploughed through the moorings of a catamaran and several Daring Class yachts, sending several of the Darings adrift.
Two were recovered just outside the harbour, one by a Cowes Harbour launch and the other by the lifeboat.
The lifeboat also went on to find that a 30-foot catamaran had been pushed from its mooring on to another Daring, which ended up hard against the catamaran’s stern.
Also left at an angle was the post indicating the small vessel channel.
All the craft were towed into Shepards Marina.
Cowes Harbour Commission confirmed that the 5.30am Red Funnel ferry, Red Eagle, was apparently responsible.
The catamaran is owned by the Vicar of St Mary’s Church, the Rev Andrew Poppe, who has been informed of the mishap.
Calshot lifeboat was also launched, to carry out a search of the Bramble Bank area, which proved to be fruitless.
