Holbrook Coastguard helped bring in a 'mad sailors' yacht to Shotley marina after its steering gear became jammed in rough seas.

Lifeboat volunteers from the Walton and Frinton RNLI crew went to the stricken 'Kazarka' which got into difficulties off the Frinton beach after sailing from Shotley last Saturday lunchtime.

Her main bearing in the steering gearbox had exploded and jammed the rudder to starboard, leaving the yacht circling in the water and drifting toward the beach and it was feared they could run aground.

Despite challenging conditions the RNLI rescue vessel's crew were able to secure a tow rope and pulled the yacht away from danger and back to Shotley.

Challenging conditions for rescue (Picture credit: Walton and Frinton RNLI)

Yacht skipper Roger Lee, who described himself on social media as a 'mad sailor', was grateful for the help by the RNLI crew and said: "That was certainly not on the plan for the day and my brother and I will be for ever grateful to Walton and Frinton Lifeboat for their cool and competent rescue of us and our boat."

His brother Iain added: "A very big thank you to the so professional crew of the Walton life boat who came to our rescue when our steering jammed."

Lifeboat crew member Miranda Rayner said. "We got reports of a vessel adrift which was heading toward Frinton beach with two men on board," she explained. "There had been a steering failure so they couldn't control the direction of the yacht. The rudder was stuck and they were going around in circles, still drifting towards the beach. 

"It wasn't too bad getting a tow attached, however, it was made more difficult by the fact it was circling. The crew helped us connect the line up and we towed them back to Shotley Marina which is where they're from. It would have ended up on Frinton beach if we hadn't got to them and it was challenging conditions that day."

Without any steering, getting the Kazarka through the lock into Shotley marina proved a challenge but the crew were assisted by the Holbrook Coastguard Team.

Team work rescues man who fell into Harwich harbour water

Kazarka safely tied up in Shotley marina today (Picture credit: peninsula Nub news)