VIDEO: The Sinking of Alchemist

This dramatic footage of the Dubois designed Half Tonner Alchemist was captured by RNLI Mudeford during the Round the Island Race on July 2, a 50 nm course that rounds the Isle of Wight in the UK.

Skippered by Andrew Talbot, Alchemist hit the SS Varvassi wreck off The Needles, with crew members on board having to be rescued by the Christchurch based Mudeford RNLI inshore lifeboat team. The crew got off the boat just seconds before she sank in 17 metres of water just east of the Needles.

The yacht, built in 1978, was competing without its owner, Mark Wynter, who is the Commodore of the Island Sailing Club, the host of the race.

Alchemist during better times.