Kessock Lifeboat diverted from Open Day demonstration to assist yacht

Open Days at Kessock Lifeboat station are always hugely affected by the weather given our position on Craigton point. Last Saturday with very little breeze, no rain, conditions were ideal for the several hundreds of people who came to visit us throughout the day.

The always popular home baking stall quickly sold out and despite it being the end of August there was a rush on people buying RNLI Christmas cards too. Children’s faces were painted before they enjoyed themselves on bouncy castles and enjoyed ice creams in the afternoon sunshine in what visitors to the station described as ‘fantastic day for the family’.

Lifeboat demonstrations got underway mid morning with 3 demonstrations throughout the day. Invergordon Lifeboat arrived to take part in all three demonstrations and at around 1.30pm Coastguard Helicopter 951 arrived to take part in a joint exercise between the 2 lifeboats.

Simulating a vessel on fire just off Carnarc point Kessock Lifeboat rescued 2 people who had abandoned ship to a liferaft, while Invergordon Lifeboat extinguished the fire and took the vessel and it’s remaining crewman under tow to safety. Coastguard Helicopter 951 then winched to the 2 casualties from Kessock Lifeboat in good view of the spectators on the shoreline.

It was during the third and final demonstration of the day at 3.20pm that Aberdeen Coastguard tasked the crew of Kessock to assist a yacht with engine failure that was trying to make it’s way into Inverness harbour in a dying wind and strong tides.

Still under sail, the crew of the yacht knew they would have difficulties ahead of them as they got closer to Inverness. Kessock Lifeboat met the yacht just off Castle Stuart Golf Course, assisted them get their sails down and then took them under tow back to Inverness Marina where they were safely berthed and able to effect repairs before continuing their onward journey.

Kessock Helmsman, Myles Evans said ‘The 2 people on the yacht did exactly the right thing in calling for help as soon as they realised they had a problem. By doing so they prevented their situation becoming any worse. It was a simple tow for us back past the station and into the marina and great for the public who were there to be able to see a live rescue take place right in front of them’

 As the final raffle prizes were being drawn at the end of the day and the last cheeseburger being eaten the amount raised was being added up. With some money still to come in the total raised so far is just over £6,000.

Dan Holland, volunteer Helmsman at Kessock said ‘this is tremendous amount for people to donate to us here at Kessock, money that will go directly to helping us respond to whatever situation people find themselves in. We’d like to thank everyone who came along on Saturday and supported us, we’re incredibly grateful for the continued support that the local community give us’

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• Details for attached pictures.

1.     Kessock Yacht rescue shows Kessock Lifeboat alongside stricken yacht. Credit: RNLI

2.     Rescue demonstration show Coastguard Helicopter 951 and Kessock Lifeboat. Credit: RNLI Kessock

3.     Invergordon and Kessock Lifeboats at the mouth of Inverness Harbour. Credit: Peter MacLean

• A sale of a private whisky collection is taking place at Dingwall Marts on Friday 2 September at 12 noon where the proceeds of nearly 200 bottles of malt whisky will be given to RNLI Kessock. For further information about the lots please look at the Frasers Auction Room website. For further information about the sale please contact Dan Holland.

• The RNLI recently launched its biggest water safety campaign in its history. Respect The Water aims to reduce the number of coastal drowning’s around the UK and Ireland by 2014. Full information here: http://rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water/Pages/Safety.aspx

 Media contacts:

Dan Holland, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, RNLI Kessock, 07900 567 496 [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07786 668903, [email protected]

Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]

RNLI 24 hour 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 146,000 lives.

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