
Plymouth lifeboat launched to locate a lost yacht
The volunteer crew of Plymouth all-weather lifeboat was launched on service at 00.54am on Thursday 29 June to search for a 32ft yacht with two persons on board who were unsure of their position.
The RNLI was contacted by Falmouth Coastguard to search for a yacht with an older crew on board who were tired and disorientated. It was a difficult search due to the moderate sea conditions and the cloud blocking out the moon making the night very dark. It was raining and the wind was blowing westerly. The yacht had no GPS or navigation lights. Lifeboat
Sybil Mullen Glover arrived on scene at 2.15am.
Coxswain David Milford decided to transfer two crew members to the vessel to assist the persons on board as they were by now exhausted. A tow was established and slowly made way back to Mayflower Marina. Although embarrassed that they had to be rescued by the RNLI the couple were very grateful. The lifeboat and crew returned to the station at 4.45am
Notes to editors
- Plymouth RNLI lifeboat has been operating since 1862. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/plymouth
- Enclosed picture Severn class lifeboat on scene with the casualty. Taken by Les Butler RNLI mechanic
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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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