An Island fisherman came to a dramatic rescue of a young French sailor in stormy waters three miles off the south coast of the Island yesterday (Thursday) morning.

Ed Blake, who owns Ventnor Haven Fishery, a family business, was returning home after a night’s commercial potting fishing early in the morning with crew members, Charlie Magnurson and George Finan. He said: “We had been out around 20 miles south-west in the Channel, when I heard a ‘pan pan’ distress call coming from the Over Falls, three miles off the south-west of St Catherine’s.

“We had actually gone past the particular point where the call was made, but realised I was the nearest boat to the yacht and it was behind me, so I turned around.

“It was a solo sailor in a 4 or 5 metre (13 to 16 foot) yacht, which had engine failure. We see a lot of these yachts and they are typically French, taking part in a race or organised sailing event. He set sail on August 18 from northern France and was heading towards the Island from Land’s End.

“They normally sail down to Poole or go around the Island, but they are quite competent vessels. I think the sailor was unsure of the waters he was in, especially in the conditions which were very difficult.

“We pulled up alongside his boat and got a tow attached and pulled him back in to a mile outside Ventnor where he was in calmer waters, by which time, Bembridge RNLI had been alerted and came to bring him back.

“I asked if his steering was working and he gave me a thumbs up! I couldn’t talk to him in the conditions, but he was very grateful, and relieved, for the tow.”

Bembridge RNLI confirmed they were called out to a distress call around 9.15am. The crew towed the boat back to Gosport.