Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI in early morning callout to grounded yacht in Plockton

Kyle Lifeboat, Spirit of Fred. Olsen, launched at 4:05am at the request of Stornoway Coastguard, after the yacht May Dream broke its mooring and ran aground in Plockton bay.  The lifeboat made best speed towards Plockton, and arrived on scene at 4:15am to find the 36 foot yacht, which had 2 persons on board, aground and listing heavily.  The crew of the stricken vessel were trying to secure the yacht to the shore to stop it listing any further, so the lifeboat put a crew member ashore to make sure the yachtsmen were not injured and to check the condition of the yacht.  The lifeboat then stayed on scene until low water at 6:45am, to make sure the yacht did not roll over or suffer any further damage as it dried out.  Once the lifeboat crew were satisfied that the yachtsmen were safe and in no danger, Kyle lifeboat returned to Station at 7:20am

The crew then launched again at 8:20am to return to the scene, and make sure the yacht was not taking on any water or leaking fuel as it refloated on the incoming tide.  The lifeboat put a crew member and salvage pump on board the yacht until it was confirmed that there was no water ingress.  Once the yacht was refloated and was back in deeper water, the lifeboat escorted it to a safe mooring before returning to Kyle at 10:30am.

Notes to editors:

• Please credit pictures to Kyle RNLI

RNLI media contacts:

Andrew MacDonald, Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI Volunteer Press Officer on 07748 707606 or [email protected]

Or 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.

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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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