Training turns into Shout for Kirkcudbright RNLI volunteer crew
The Kirkcudbright RNLI volunteer crew had an unexpected evening on Wednesday 26 July at 7pm when a routine training assessment that became a callout.
The crew were due for an evening of assessments with an RNLI Training Assessor when the pagers went off. This meant a very fast response to the shout was required.
They were sent to assist a 9m catamaran which had lost power and steerage near Creetown. It was a very wet and unpleasant night causing quite rough conditions.
Once the casualty vessel was located and it was ascertained the crew were fine, it was towed back to Kirkcudbright Bay by volunteer crew. It was then anchored safely overnight as there was insufficient water to get back up the channel to Kirkcudbright Harbour.
The Kirkcudbright RNLI Lifeboat Sheila Stenhouse was rehoused by the volunteer crew at 1am in the morning, a slightly longer training night than had been anticipated.
Ally Young, Lifeboat Training Assessor who went out on the callout as a member of the crew said: 'It was a challenging tow but the crew and boat performed well.'
The catamaran crew were able to get repairs carried out at anchor and the boat successfully came up to the harbour later that day under its own power.
The RNLI always advises anyone who requires assistance to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. They will then alert the appropriate RNLI lifeboat.
Notes to editors
ยท 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]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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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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