A YACHT which lost power and was dangerously close to running aground has been rescued by a lifeboat team.
A German yacht was almost beached at the entrance of the Caledonian Canal after it suffered electrical problems and lost power on Monday evening.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Loch Ness's lifeboat scrambled at around 7.45pm.
The team raced down the canal to aid the stranded yacht, which was about 30 minutes away from running aground, according to the rescue service.
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The lifeboat crew were able to tow the yacht, named Mintaka, to bring them alongside the sailing barge Ros Crana at the canal entrance at Fort Augustus.
The lifeboat then scouted the canal pontoons for a suitable space which they described as “extremely busy” at the time.
In a statement posted online a spokesperson for RNLI Loch Ness said: “At 19:45 on Monday 1st July, the lifeboat crew were paged to assist the German yacht 'Mintaka' that had suffered electrical problems and lost power and propulsion at the entrance to the canal at Fort Augustus.
“The lifeboat made best speed down the loch and established contact with the yacht that was close to running aground in the river entrance next to the canal within 30 minutes.
“The crew established an immediate alongside tow and put them alongside the sailing barge Ros Crana at the canal entrance whilst the lifeboat then scouted the canal pontoons for a suitable space as it was extremely busy.
“Having identified a suitable spot the lifeboat re-established an alongside tow and repositioned the casualty vessel to the pontoons.
“The lifeboat then returned to station to be refueled and made ready for service."
Helm, Kieron Tarling, added: “Calm conditions helped in this shout and the well prepared and professional actions by the yacht's crew were appreciated by the Lifeboat Helm and Crew. As was the assistance of the crew of the Ros Crana.”
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