Early morning launch for RNLI Longhope Lifeboat
Yacht in trouble alerts UK Coastguard for assistance
Today, April 27 2017 at 06.22, RNLI Longhope lifeboat crew members were paged to launch by UK Coastguard. Despite the early hour the lifeboat was away within 13 minutes.
It took over an hour to reach the stricken vessel which was located about seven miles east of Orkney. Sea conditions were poor and deteriorating with a heavy swell and northerly winds gusting 28mph.
The 10 metre yacht Cloud Nine was on passage from Inverness to Kirkwall and had become disabled by partially jammed steering. She carried four crew members and unfortunately one had become unwell in the rough seas. The lifeboat established a tow and headed to the more sheltered waters off Copinsay.
After a tow of four hours the lifeboat delivered the yacht safely to Kirkwall Marina, then headed home and was back at station, refuelled and ready again for service at 15.45.
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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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