Shortly before 2pm on Sunday 03 July 16, the volunteer crew of the Tobermory lifeboat were launched to a yacht in distress off the most westerly point on mainland Britain.
The casualty vessel a 33 foot yacht with two people on board was spotted by another yacht in the area that raised the alarm through Stornoway Coastguard. The yacht had lost the mast less than a mile west of Ardnamurchan lighthouse. Luck would have it that on this occasion the wind and tide were favourable indeed they actually ensured the yacht maintained a safe and fairly constant distance from land.
On arrival at the casualty yacht’s location, an assessment of the conditions and actions required was made, and the inflatable craft launched from the Severn Class lifeboat with two crew members on board. They quickly tied alongside the Yacht and assisted in securing as much of the sails and rigging as possible.
With the yacht and its rigging secured as best as possible in the conditions a tow was established, and the yacht towed back to Tobermory Harbour. The local coastguard detachment had been mobilised and were on hand to assist with the mooring of the yacht onto the pontoons.
The Tobermory lifeboat returned to the berth and was made ready for service at 6.50pm
Coxswain: James Fairbairns, Mechanic: Paul ‘Gunny’ Gunn, Crew: David McHaffie, Donald Mitchell, Mark Whitaker, Michael Stirling, Dave Underwood, Leanne Blair.
Richard Smith, Public Relations Manager Scotland on 01738 642956, 07786 668903 or [email protected]
Or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]
Or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.
RNLI onlineFor more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press
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.
