The group was taking the boat out for the first time since October after an expensive refit of the vessel during the winter. But they were forced to abandon ship at 13.20 when fire broke out on board. Fellow sailors helped them onto their vessels before lifeboat crews from Brighton and Shoreham took them back to the shore.

A plume of smoke at least a thousand feet high could be seen from Brighton and Hove, although the blaze was at least 10 miles away just outside Shoreham Harbour, says The Argus. The vessel burned for two hours as RNLI and coastguard crews had to stand by and watch because it was too dangerous to approach. The boat sank at 15.18.

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.