RESCUERS sent out on an emergency call in the Solent found themselves confronted by a "ghost ship" after its crew were left stranded on a beach while their boat floated off.

A team from Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (Gafirs) were called out after the coastguard received reports of people in the water near a disabled Hobie class catamaran racing dinghy.

But when the lifeboat, Gosport Rescue One, arrived at the scene the crew failed to find anyone aboard the dinghy or in the water.

The mystery was only solved when three sailors were later found on the beach at Lee-on-Solent.

The catamaran crew - who have not been named but are believed to come from Blackfield in the New Forest - had set out from Calshot Cats Sailing Club earlier in the day.

Gafirs spokesman Ken Pink said: "It transpired the party of sailors had sailed their catamaran from Calshot to Lee-on-Solent, and on arriving at the beach they hauled their craft up the sand and went for refreshments.

"A gust of wind or a wash caused their craft to cast off without them on board."

Despite the cold and mist, which had reduced visibility to less than a mile, two of the crew attempted to swim out to retrieve their craft.

Ken said: "Two tried to swim out after the craft without success.

"It was this activity that was reported to HM Coastguard as persons in the water from disabled craft."

The catamaran crew were later re-united with their racing dinghy and set sail back to Calshot.