Kirkcudbright RNLI see busy weekend that ended with a shout

The volunteer crew were sent, along with HM Coastguard and Port William Independent Inshore Rescue “Pirsac” to investigate reports of a vessel firing distress flares near the entrance to the Isle of Whithorn Harbour.

The volunteer crew of Kirkcudbright RNLI lifeboat had just settled down to a well earned rest on Sunday 20 August 2023. This was after a hectic weekend for the crew with a callout on Saturday and then a very successful multi-agency Emergency Services Day run by crew members on Sunday, when the pagers went off at around 9.30 pm.

Despite all the previous voluntary work over the weekend, a full crew assembled immediately at the station.

When Kirkcudbright RNLI lifeboat, Sheila Stenhouse, arrived on scene after a fairly rough passage, the Port William boat had managed to attach a line to a yacht in distress and had put a crew member aboard. However, the yacht had dragged its anchor and entangled in a lobster pot close to rocks and was at this stage in danger of running aground.

Kirkcudbright RNLI lifeboat crew were able to attach a towline to the yacht, after cutting the yacht’s anchor to free the vessel, a difficult tow in challenging conditions was then carried out. The casualty vessel was safely taken into Isle of Whithorn Harbour and secured.

HM Coastguard then informed the Kirkcudbright RNLI lifeboat that the deteriorating weather conditions were forecast to get worse and the decision was made to secure the RNLI lifeboat, Sheila Stenhouse, overnight in the harbour at the Isle of Whithorn. The crew were then transported back to Kirkcudbright by road, a trip of over 50 miles, finally arriving back in Kirkcudbright around 3 a.m.

A second crew were taken back to the Isle of Whithorn on Monday and the boat was finally re-housed and refuelled at the station on Monday afternoon.

John Collins LOM said “It is some time since we worked with our service partners Port William Independent Inshore Lifeboat and the HM Coastguard at the Isle of Whithorn and once again team work produced a successful outcome. We were particularly grateful to HM Coastguard team who transported our crew part of the way back to Kirkcudbright where they were met by our shore crew in our RNLI landrover. It was a rescue involving a lot of people”

Some useful tips on Sailing Safety can be found by visiting RNLI.org/safety

Notes to editors

· Kirkcudbright lifeboat station has been operating since 1862. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/kirkcudbright-lifeboat-station

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Christine Collins, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

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Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

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