A solo sailor called for help from Lowestoft's RNLI Lifeboat yesterday morning after running out of fuel.

The Spirit of Lowestoft all weather lifeboat was launched shortly after 9.50am to go to the aid of the skipper of the trimaran yacht 'Trina' who was stranded on his vessel close inshore and without power.

Lowestoft Lifeboat coxswain John Fox said: 'We found the yacht near to the end of the groynes about a quarter of a mile past Links Road in North Lowestoft. The skipper said that he had run out of fuel and thus had no engine to use to safely get through the pier heads. Weather conditions were good and we soon connected a towline and brought the vessel into the harbour.'

A week earlier Berwick RNLI lifeboat was launched just after midnight following a mayday call to the same yacht that had reportedly lost her navigation system and was being swamped with water.

The yacht's skipper did not know his position as his electrics were down and in worsening conditions, with thick fog and a heavy two metre swell, he fired off some flares. But in doing so he set fire to his lifejacket and had to throw it overboard to extinguish the flames.

The Berwick lifeboat managed to locate the stranded vessel and get a crewman aboard with another lifejacket. They then helped to sail the yacht back to the safety of Berwick docks.