You are at the helm of your 40ft twin-engined semi-displacement cruiser. You are returning to your marina berth after a pleasant day’s cruising in the estuary. It is an hour past high tide.

As you round the cardinal mark at the end of the sand spit, you see a 35ft sailing yacht that has tried to take a short cut aground. The skipper waves frantically at you. Clearly he’d like to be towed off.

Your local knowledge tells you he hasn’t gone too far onto the mud and you should be able to get within 20ft of his stern without going aground yourself. What now, skipper?

Email your answers to paul_ashton@ipcmedia.com