Early morning call to stricken yacht

The volunteer crew from RNLI Macduff were requested to launch at 4:46 am on Friday 20 October, to assist a yacht which had been involved in a collision with a fishing vessel 4 nautical miles off Macduff.

Lifeboat Lydia Macdonald was launched at 4:57 at the request of HM Coastguard in Aberdeen. The crew of four was on scene with the yacht at 5:15 am where they found that the yacht had sustained damage to her port beam and lost her mast.

After checking that the lone yachtsman and the crew of the fishing vessel were not injured and did not require medical attention the yacht was taken under tow to Macduff Harbour.

The fishing vessel had sustained minimal damage and was able to continue on her way to her destination.

On arrival at Macduff the yacht was moored up and the yachtsman was passed in to the care of the local HM Coastguard station.

The lifeboat was recovered at 7:25 am, washed, refuelled and was ready for service at 8 am.

Notes for editors

• RNLI Macduff lifeboat Lydia Macdonald is a B class Atlantic 85 which carries 4 crew.
• Lydia Macdonald is unique within the RNLI being the only lifeboat that is launched from a mobile crane. This method of launch allows the lifeboat to be launched from other locations should the need arise.

RNLI media contacts: 


Mike Rawlins, Macduff RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07720 288366 [email protected] 


Or Gemma McDonald, Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]

Or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.