Barrow RNLI Lifeboat called to rescue crew of stricken yacht
Volunteer crew from the RNLI’s Barrow station launched their Inshore Lifeboat this afternoon Friday 17th August 2018, to go to the aid of the crew of a yacht at Roa Island.
The call for assistance came from HM Coastguard at Holyhead at 4-12pm following a mayday call from the vessel. The information received was that the yacht had crossed Walney Channel from Piel Island and had attempted to land at the Roa Island slipway. Due to a strong westerly wind, the vessel drifted across towards the Lifeboat Station where its mast became entangled with the structure of the walkway. The crew was paged and the inshore lifeboat, Vision of Tamworth, was launched with Ben Jackson at the helm assisted by Dave Kell. Faye Cleasby, also on board, successfully completed her first rescue as volunteer crew.
The three crew onboard the yacht, who were all wearing lifejackets, were transferred to the lifeboat and taken back to the Lifeboat Station. The lifeboat then returned to the stricken yacht, a line was attached and it was towed to a safe mooring.
The lifeboat returned to the Lifeboat Station at 5-30pm where it was cleaned and made ready for the next launch.
The wind at the time of the incident was westerly, Force 6-7, and the high tide was at 4-43pm with a height of 8.3 metres.
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.
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