iStockA lone sailor had to be rescued after their yacht broke down in bad weather and was in danger of smashing into rocks at Eilean Donan Castle.
Stornoway Coastguard were alerted to the ‘pan pan’ urgent radio message shortly after 6pm on Saturday night.
The boat suffered engine failure as it attempted to motor from Loch Duich to Kyleakin.
The sailor sought shelter from the worst of the wind by anchoring in a bay near to the Highland castle.
However, the anchor began to drag in the strong gusts, with the yacht being pulled towards the rocks.
A volunteer crew from Kyle RNLI arrived at the scene and were able to tow the vessel to the safety of Kyleakin harbour.
A spokesperson from Kyle RNLI said: “The yacht had suffered mechanical failure, and with the gale force winds and very rough seas it was decided the only safe location to tow the casualty vessel to was Kyle or Kyleakin.
“However, this required the lifeboat to tow the 11-ton yacht through the extremely heavy seas which took over two hours.
“It is a timely reminder to all mariners about how quickly weather can build, and to ensure they check the forecast carefully before setting out on a voyage to ensure they can reach their destination in plenty of time before bad weather comes in.”
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