An early morning search of the Clyde for a lone yachtsman who was struggling to get to harbour ended successfully.

The coastguard alerted the Largs Lifeboat at 3.25am on Wednesday July 19 to launch in response to a call from a sailor who was having difficulty entering Rothesay Harbour in the dark and conditions prevailing.

The lifeboat was soon on the scene given but there was no sign of the yacht leading to an extensive search.

Meanwhile the coastguard endeavoured to contact the sailor who had contacted them on a mobile phone, no contact was made.

Largs experienced lifeboat crew extended their search across towards Toward Point, and up the river towards Dunoon then across the firth to Wemyss Bay where they eventually found the lone yachtsman.

A crew member from the lifeboat boarded the yacht, a tow line was attached and the vessel withy it’s occupant taken to Inverkip Marina.

Two and a half hours later at 6am the lifeboat returned to station in nice time for the volunteer crew to go to their respective day jobs.

Largs lifeboat spokesman Alasdair Woods said that the lesson to learn from this episode is that all yacht and boat crews should always carry a VHF radio.