RNLI Kirkwall Lifeboat to rescue of yacht disabled in strong tides.

Shetland Coastguards (SCG) paged Request Launch at 10:58 hrs and duty LA Chris Irvine called for more information. He was informed that a sailing yacht with 1 person on board had lost her engine while becalmed in a strong tide stream and had put out a MAYDAY call.

Launch ALB was paged at 11:08 hrs and the crew mustered at the station for briefing. Coxswain Fraser Retson and 6 more volunteer crew departed on Kirkwall Lifeboat (1713) at 11:15 hrs and proceeded to toward the casualty which was reported in position 59 07N, 003 04W.

1713 arrived on scene at 11:42 hrs to find that the vessel was close to the point of Aiker Ness. At 11:47 a line was secured and the tow back to Kirkwall commenced. Weather conditions were slight so a good tow speed was possible.

The casualty was towed into Kirkwall where she was safely tied up in the marina at 13:20 hrs .

1713 returned to station where she was secured on her berth at 13:25 hrs and was refuelled, ready for service again at 13:35 hrs.

This is the 13th service for Kirkwall lifeboat this year.

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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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