Donate now

Douglas RNLI lifeboat called out to yacht in difficulty

Lifeboats News Release

Douglas RNLI lifeboat was launched today (19 June) at 8.35pm following the report of a yacht in difficulty approximately one mile off Douglas.

Douglas lifeboat Sir William Hillary with casualty vessel in Douglas harbour

RNLI/Michael Howland

Douglas lifeboat Sir William Hillary with casualty vessel in Douglas harbour
The 11m yacht with four people on board had been making its way back to Douglas when the roller reefing system of the foresail jammed making the sail unusable. Unable to start the yacht's engine and drifting east in the offshore wind the crew radioed the Coastguard for assistance

The Douglas all weather lifeboat, Sir William Hillary, under the command of volunteer coxswain Neal Corran reached the casualty vessel just after 8.45pm by which time the yacht had drifted a further three miles away from the Island.

The yacht was towed back to Douglas and berthed alongside the Visitors' Pontoon on the Battery Pier where the Coastguards were waiting to assist, the four people on board being none the worse for their ordeal.

Notes to editors
Caption for one attached photo: Douglas lifeboat Sir William Hillary with casualty vessel in Douglas harbour. Credit: RNLI/Michael Howland

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Michael Howland, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07624 496029 or email [email protected] or Eleri Roberts, Divisional Media Relations Manager (Wales and West) on 07771 941390 or 01745 585162. Alternatively contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.


Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

Categories