Sailor rescued as boat hits rocks

St Ives Inshore Lifeboat slowly manoeuvres Seaspray to shore

A single-handed yachtsman had to be rescued off the Cornish coast after his boat hit rocks and began sinking.

The vessel Seaspray hit rocks at Clodgy Point, on the western side of St Ives just before 1500 BST on Thursday.

Although it appeared the yacht was sailing into port unaided, the coastguard was called to help pump water out of it, the coastguard said.

Officials said it was not exactly clear how the boat managed to get in to trouble so close to the port.

The St Ives Harbourmaster contacted Falmouth Coastguard after it became obvious the yacht was beginning to sink.

The local inshore lifeboat crew were on hand to manoeuvre the yacht into the harbour, while the assistant harbourmaster helped make temporary repairs to the hole in the side of the vessel.

Rescue services hope to beach the boat at high tide so that repairs can be made.