Girvan lifeboat called to stricken yacht

At 12:23pm on Tuesday 30 August, Girvan Lifeboat volunteer crew pagers were activated by Belfast Coastguard to reports of a vessel with jammed sails and without power.

Within minutes of the pagers going off the all-weather relief lifeboat Pride and Spirit was leaving the harbour mouth and heading towards the last reported position just South of Dunure with sea conditions getting worse all the time.

Once on scene, the lifeboat crew assessed the situation with the drifting, powerless vessel and ensured the casualties on board did not require any medical attention.

A tow-line was then established from the lifeboat to the 28ft stricken yacht Lady of lockerly prior to making for Girvan Harbour, where the lifeboat manoeuvred the casualty vessel into a pontoon berth and ensured it was secure. The crew then assisted with bringing the damaged sail down for safety.

After four hours at sea the lifeboat was then refuelled and made ready for service once again.

RNLI Media Contacts: Craig Sommerville, volunteer lifeboat press officer, 074112 76383.

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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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