Oban RNLI assist a lone transatlantic sailor
Oban RNLI Lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard (Wednesday 20 September) to a call for assistance from a lone transatlantic sailor on a training exercise in deteriorating conditions in the Lynn of Morven.
Oban’s Trent class lifeboat Mora Edith Macdonald launched on service at 3:05pm at the request of HM Coastguard to go to the assistance of a transatlantic rowing boat that was out doing rough water training in the Lynn of Morven and was struggling in deteriorating conditions approximately 1.5 miles from Glensanda Quarry.
While on route, the volunteer crew received an update from the crew of the Glensanda quarry vessel the Lady Heather, which was standing by the casualty vessel until the lifeboat arrived, that there was one person onboard, and they had deployed their sea anchor.
Once on scene a crew member from the all-weather lifeboat was transferred to the casualty vessel to assist with the recovery of the anchor.
Unfortunately, due to how the sea anchor had been set it was not possible to recover the anchor and the decision was made to cut away the sea anchor and take the casualty vessel under tow to the nearest safe haven.
A tow was set between the Trent class lifeboat and the casualty vessel and a course set to Linnhe Marina.
The casualty vessel was safely secured alongside the pontoons at Linnhe Marina at 5:09pm where the volunteer crew member was taken back aboard the lifeboat before returning to station at 5:55pm.
Coxswain Ally Cerexhe would like to extend Oban RNLI’s thanks to the crew of the Lady Heather for providing assistance until our arrival on scene.
If you see someone in trouble at the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
Know what to do – visit https://rnli.org/safety
Notes to Editor
The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Picture credit: RNLI
Oban is a busy station serving one of the largest stretches of coastline in the UK, flanked by RNLI colleagues based at Tobermory, Islay and Campbeltown.
The Oban volunteer crew operate the Trent Class All Weather lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald from our base at the South Pier on Gallanach Road, close to the CalMac ferry terminal.
Picture Caption: All images show crew preparing to take casualty vessel under tow.
Photo credit: RNLI
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Stephen Lawson, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Oban RNLI on 07776 340629 or email [email protected]
John Macgill, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Oban RNLI on 07711 548672 or email [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, Regional Media Officer (Scotland), on 07826 900639 or [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Manager (Scotland), on 07920 365929 or [email protected]
RNLI Press Office 01202 336789 or [email protected]
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.