Aberdeen lifeboat crew tow yacht to safety
RNLI Aberdeen’s all-weather lifeboat Bon Accord launched at 9am on Sunday 12 March, at the request of HM Coastguard in Aberdeen, to reports of the sailing yacht Fleur requesting assistance south east of Aberdeen.
The Fleur, with two people on board, had sailed from Anstruther in Fife. She had been becalmed in fog and had lost power from her ancillary engine: with the yacht adrift in fog and close to busy shipping lanes approaching Aberdeen, the decision was taken to tow her to safety.
In visibility around 300 metres, the lifeboat made its way to the yacht’s reported position before narrowing the search using radar. A towing line was passed to the yacht at 10.30am at a position 10 nautical miles east of Newtonhill, Aberdeenshire.
The tow to Aberdeen took three-and-a-half hours, with the fog clearing during this time. The yacht and her crew were brought alongside in Aberdeen and transferred to the care of Aberdeen Harbour staff at 2.05pm. The lifeboat was refuelled and returned to service readiness at 2.30pm.
Images of Aberdeen’s lifeboats at work are available at https://vimeo.com/fennelmedia/rnli and https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Anne-Scott8 where Aberdeen Lifeboat is raising funds for the essential replacement of the station’s 10 year old inshore lifeboat at a cost of £52,000.
RNLI Media Contacts: Terry McNeill, deputy lifeboat press office at Aberdeen, 07941 329798 [email protected]
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