Port St Mary RNLI lifeboat assists yacht in distress
On Saturday (1 June) Port St Mary RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Gough Ritchie II was tasked by HM Coastguard at 5.28pm to assist a yacht in distress some 10 miles south of the Calf of Man.
The yacht that had suffered engine and electronics failure on passage from Bangor, north Wales to Peel and as a result, the yacht’s crew were unsure of their accurate position.
The yacht had been purchased two days earlier and whilst on passage suffered a leak which filled the bilges with diesel fuel. The Coastguard broadcast a request to all shipping south of the Isle of Man to keep a look out for a 28ft white hulled yacht and report the position accordingly.
Port St Mary RNLI volunteer crew proceeded to the last estimated position in force 4 - 6 northerly wind and slight sea, but were unable to locate the casualty vessel in the vicinity or establish an updated position.
RNLI Coxswain Morgan Guy, then proceeded to conduct the search to the east of the last estimated position based on tidal flows and prevailing wind, utilising his local expertise of the coastline and experience of carrying out different search patterns.
The Coastguard broadcast was picked up by a Dutch tanker Coralwater who reported a suspicious target on their radar and altered their course to investigate. The tanker reported that this was the vessel in distress and relayed the correct position to the Coastguard and all-weather lifeboat and agreed to stand by the yacht until the lifeboat arrived.
This position was some 12 miles from the initial reported position. The all-weather lifeboat arrived on scene at 7.25pm and a lifeboat crew member was transferred to the yacht to establish if either of the crew were in need of medical assistance due to illness or injuries.
Due to the fact the yacht was unable to navigate and return to shore safely, it was decided the only way to return the crew onboard safely back to shore and minimise any danger was to establish a tow back to nearest safe port.
The lifeboat arrived back at approximately 10.15pm where the volunteer shore crew assisted in helping to moor the yacht. The lifeboat was then refuelled and placed back on the mooring ready for the next shout by 10.27pm.
Morgan Guy, Port St Mary RNLI Coxswain said:
‘We’re happy we could bring this yacht and it’s crew safely back to shore without anyone getting into serious danger. Anything can happen when you’re out at sea and it’s important to make sure you’re as prepared as possible for all eventualities.
‘Having equipment to help determine your location, such as a personal locator beacon, is a great piece of safety equipment to have onboard. Should you get into difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard at the earliest opportunity.
‘Thank you to the Captain and crew of Coralwater, without which the search could have taken us many hours longer.’
Notes to editors
- Photograph of RNLI Gough Ritchie II returning to Port St Mary with the casualty (Credit: Brian Kelly).
- Port St Mary lifeboat station has been operating since 1896.
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For more information please contact David Hill, Port St Mary RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected] or 07624471410.
Alternatively you can contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on [email protected] or 07977 728315, or contact the RNLI Press Office on 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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