St Mary's lifeboat rescues yachtsman during twelve hour operation.
St Mary's lifeboat The Whiteheads under the command of Phil Woodcock was launched at 6.35am on Wednesday 7 March to go to the aid of a single-handed yacht that was in difficulties approximately 48 nautical miles south of St Mary's.
The lifeboat, with its volunteer crew, arrived at the casualty three hours after the launch and after confirming that the lone skipper was in good health, attached a tow rope and began the long journey back to St Mary's.
The rescue took twelve hours and after refuelling, the lifeboat was back on the moorings and ready for service.
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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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