Bridlington lifeboat rescues lone sailor off the East Yorkshire coast
After receiving a mobile phone call from a distressed lone sailor the watch officers at Humber Coastguard realised the man was in need of immediate help.
At 5.00pm on Thursday 12th June Bridlington’s lifeboat launched on service in response to the Coastguard request.
The man, a 67yr old experienced sailor, had set off from Grimsby on passage to Scarborough in a 10 metre yacht the Bonaire earlier in the day. But problems started when his propeller became fouled as wind and sea conditions started to deteriorate.
Coxswain Stu Tibbett, hearing that the man’s condition was getting worse, decided to take an extra crewman on board the lifeboat in the hope he could put one of his crew onboard the yacht subject to the conditions on scene.
The RNLI volunteers made their way to a position 14 miles south of Bridlington. The winds were now gusting gale force with the lifeboat making the best possible speed.
Arriving at the casualty Coxswain Tibbett eased back as the yacht seemed to be out of control in the conditions and was moving very erratically. Getting a crewman onboard would not be easy.
Unfortunately the man’s condition meant someone would have to go onboard and help him. Crewman Andy Rodgers, an experienced sailor, took a position on the bow of the lifeboat and managed to scramble on to the yacht at the first attempt.
With Andy Rodgers now steering the yacht Coxswain Tibbett decided it would be wise to put another crew man on the yacht to help if a tow was needed. Second Coxswain Steve Emmerson agreed to go on the yacht but this time several attempts were needed before getting him on the yacht.
After checking the yachtsman’s condition the two lifeboat crewmen sailed the Bonaire towards Bridlington but after a short while due to the sea condition’s the Coxswain decided to take the yacht under tow.
The lifeboat and yacht made the safety of Bridlington harbour where Coastguards assisted in mooring the yacht and seeing if the sailor needed any medical attention. The sailor thanked the crews for all their help and his condition improved once ashore.
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Photo Credit Andy Brompton.
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