Rescue services were called after an unmanned 40ft yacht lost its mooring and got stuck in rocks near Heysham power stations.
Morecambe RNLI said they were called out to a yacht in distress at around 10.30am on Sunday.
A Morecambe lifeboat crew spokesperson said they'd received reports that the boat had lost its mooring from Fleetwood and was drifting dangerously close to the shipping lane near Heysham, completely unmanned.
"This situation presented a serious risk, not only to the yacht itself but also to commercial and personal vessels in the area," said an RNLI spokesperson.
"In response, our D-class Lifeboat quickly made its way to the scene to assess the situation.
"Upon arrival, the crew faced a challenging scenario: the 40ft yacht was lodged between rocks, situated near the outflows at the rear of the power station. Its position complicated any immediate extraction efforts.
"The lifeboat remained on scene, vigilantly monitoring the conditions as the tide gradually receded.
"After careful evaluation, the crew, in collaboration with MRCC HM Coastguard Holyhead, developed a strategic rescue plan that hinged on the owner's return to the vessel for steering assistance.
Below, the yacht. Image: RNLI
"After an extensive and demanding 18-hour operation, the yacht finally floated free from the rocks.
"Our skilled crew expertly escorted the vessel back to Morecambe, where it was securely placed on a temporary mooring.
"We returned to our station at 04:30hrs (Monday) this morning, tired yet accomplished."
Paul Turner, lifeboat operations manager at Morecambe, said: "Incidents like this call upon the full range of expertise from our volunteer crew, highlighting their unwavering commitment, determination, and resilience.
"On behalf of the RNLI, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to these exceptional individuals whose efforts made this rescue a success."
The RNLI also thanked MRCC Holyhead, HM Coastguard Team Morecambe and Lancashire Police
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