Isle of Wight RNLI crew from Yarmouth tackle Fastnet

At around 3.45pm, after competitors left Cowes for Cherbourg, the all-weather RNLI Lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock, Wanderer was called to a dismasted vessel, northeast of Yarmouth Harbour.

Scroll through to see photos taken from the Isle of Wight of the Fastnet fleet in action...

Luckily, the yacht's crew freed the mast and headed back to the safety of the Isle of Wight.

Yarmouth RNLI's busy day keeping Fastnet sailors safe. (Image: RNLI.)

• Read more: Yacht sinks and dozens retire from Fastnet Race amid 'brutal' conditions

At 4:15pm, Yarmouth RNLI was called to help a sailing yacht run aground west of Beaulieu.

When they arrived, they paged HM Coastguard and Lymington's Coastal Rescue team.

Just ten minutes later, Yarmouth responded to an emergency alert, south of the Needles Lighthouse.

They set out in rough sea, poor visibility and winds of up to force seven, before being diverted to another call, leaving Swanage RNLI to check out the signal.

At 4:55pm, Yarmouth RNLI headed to Dolphin Bank, west of the Needles Lighthouse.

They found a sunken vessel and two crew in an inflatable lifeboat.

As the coastguard helicopter stood by, the pair, who suffered minor injuries, were transferred to the RNLI boat for the journey to Yarmouth Harbour, where an ambulance was waiting.

Rough seas and grey skies at the Fastnet. (Image: Mally Boo.)

The weather made for an exciting view from the Isle of Wight shore. (Image: Martin Williams.)

However, before they could get there, the RNLI team was diverted again, at 6.15pm, to help an injured crew member on a fifth yacht.

In the end, the yacht was retired from the race and headed to Yarmouth for medical aid - and a second ambulance.

After a re-fuel, Yarmouth was called out for the sixth time, at 8:38pm, to another dismasted yacht, this time near St Alban’s Head.

Gusting force eight winds and heavy seas, as high as five metres, stood between the RNLI and the vessel, which was escorted to Poole Harbour.

• Read more: 50 Isle of Wight sailors in the 50th Rolex Fastnet Race

Watching from the safety of the shore. (Image: Mally Boo.)

Keeping pace in Saturday's Fastnet race. (Image: Doug Cox.)

Throughout the day, Yarmouth lifeboat also recovered two life rafts and four man-overboard markers that had accidentally fallen into the sea triggering some of the beacons to activate.

Howard Lester, Yarmouth RNLI coxswain said the day had produced some very challenging conditions.

Weymouth and Swanage RNLI Lifeboats also answered emergency calls across the day.