West Dorset RNLI lifeboats assist yacht with engine and electrical failure
Shortly after they had rehoused their lifeboat after a routine Sunday morning training session, the volunteers at Lyme Regis RNLI were summoned back to the boathouse to go to the assistance of a sailing vessel in difficulty ten miles south of West Bay.
The crew launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne at 2:05pm and headed south-east to locate the stricken vessel, a 10 metre Contessa 32. In strong westerly winds and 2.5 metre waves it took the crew nearly an hour to arrive on scene. The yachtsman was found to be safe and well, but without power or electrical systems, he was unable to make his way to a place of safety before nightfall.
Volunteer Helm Murray Saunders assessed the situation and, in consultation with the yacht’s skipper, decided that the most sensible course of action was for the yacht to continue towards Weymouth rather than to attempt a difficult tow, into the prevailing weather, towards West Bay. At 3:26pm Murray requested the assistance of Weymouth RNLI’s Severn class all weather lifeboat Ernest and Mabel to escort the yacht around Portland Bill and into Weymouth Harbour.
Ernest and Mabel arrived on scene at 4:15pm at which point two of its volunteer crew transferred onto the yacht in preparation for potential towing operations around Portland Bill. Their job done, the Lyme Regis crew were released from service and returned to harbour at 5:30 pm when the lifeboat was washed down and refuelled by volunteer shore crew in preparation for its next service call.
Weymouth Lifeboat escorted the yacht around Portland Bill before towing the vessel into Weymouth harbour at 6:30pm.
Lyme Regis volunteer Helm Murray Saunders said: ‘This was a long shout which had a good ending. It was the right decision to seek assistance from our friends at Weymouth RNLI to get the yacht to safety there We would have had a real struggle towing a 10-metre fin keel yacht back against wind and sea to West Bay. My crew did a great job, although there was some moaning when we realised we had forgotten to bring any snacks for the 3-hour trip!’
This was the 34th service call for the volunteers of Lyme Regis RNLI this year.
Ends
Notes to editors
-
Phot 1 Weymouth ALB Ernest and Mabel approaches the casualty yacht, viewed from Lyme Regis ILB Spirit of Loch Fyne. Credit: RNLI/Nick Marks
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Nick Marks volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Lyme Regis 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.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok 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.