Fears for yacht as gales lash coast

Coastguards contacted the boat and were assured that skipper and crew were in control – but they were relieved when the yacht pulled into Scarborough to shelter.

A coastguard said the yacht had been running before winds gusting up to 40 or 50 knots and the skipper had “probably gone faster than he’s ever gone in his life before”.

Earlier, around 4 pm, the coastguards arranged a tow ashore for another yacht, The Tramp, which admitted to being in difficulties off the mouth of the Humber.

And they called in the police to close Whitby Pier because of fears for the safety of “wave dodgers”.

North Yorkshire Fire Service said they had been kept busy securing or removing wobbling chimneys and signs in Scarborough.