A HAMPSHIRE lifeboat crew has been officially commended for rescuing a yacht crew who lost their mast in the Solent.

The crew of Calshot RNLI lifeboat station received the praise following the rescue of sail training vessel Discovery in July.

The vessel had been dismasted in the Solent and was left drifting at the mercy of the choppy sea.

A local rescue craft had already established a tow, but gale-force winds caused both vessels to be swept towards the Lepe spit.

But the volunteer crew of Calshot lifeboat, on board their all-weather lifeboat, took over the tow, taking the Discovery out into deeper water.

The action has earned the crew an official letter of commendation from the charity’s operations director, Michael Vlast.