Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat volunteers launch to Mayday call from broken down yacht
The volunteer crew of Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat launched today (23 March) in response to a Mayday distress call from a yachtsman in difficulty a quarter of a mile southeast of Axmouth.
The yachtsman reported that his engine had failed the previous evening and that he had anchored overnight to prevent his yacht being driven ashore in strong westerly winds. When he attempted to recover his anchor and sail to the safety of Lyme Regis this morning, he found the anchor was fouled and could not be broken free from the seabed. Faced with prospect of cutting his anchor cable whilst on a lee shore with no working engine he decided that his best course of action was to alert HM Coastguard for immediate assistance.
Volunteers from Lyme Regis RNLI responded to the distress call at 8:42 am and launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne 9 minutes later They arrived on scene with the casualty vessel at 9:05am and immediately transferred a volunteer onto the yacht to assess the situation and assist the lone yachtsman.
RNLI volunteer Helm Tim Edwards said: ‘We found the yacht in a precarious position, with no engine and fouled anchor close to the shoreline. The situation then took a dramatic turn for the worse when the yacht’s anchor cable parted, and the boat was blown closer towards the shore by strong gusts of wind. In view of the risks to the yachtsman and my crew I took the decision to tow the yacht back to Lyme Regis harbour.’
Lyme Regis volunteer lifeboat crew Cris Cadby was on board the yacht when the anchor cable parted. He said: ‘One minute the yacht owner and I were discussing how best to free the anchor from the seabed, the next we were being blown downwind towards the shore at quite a speed. The lifeboat crew did a great job and managed to pass their towline on the first throw. Only then could we get the yacht back under control.’
The RNLI crew was full of praise for the yacht owner. He was properly equipped with a lifejacket and VHF radio, and he did the right thing by calling for help when he realised he was in difficulty.
The tow back to Lyme Regis took the volunteer crew nearly an hour after which the yacht was made fast to the harbour wall, and the lifeboat was washed down and refuelled by shore crew in preparation for its next tasking. This was the 8th service call for the Lyme Regis RNLI volunteer crew in 2024, the year in which the lifesaving charity celebrates its 200th anniversary.
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Notes to editors
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A photo of the casualty yacht from Lyme Regis RNLI inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne. Credit RNLI/Nick Marks.
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A photo of Lyme Regis RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat towing the casualty yacht, Photo credit RNLI/Nick Marks
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Nick Marks volunteer lifeboat press officer at Seatown Lifeboat Station on 07568 187582 or [email protected] or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
RNLI online
For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.
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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.
RNLI at 200
On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.
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.