Filey RNLI assist solo yachtsman.
Filey‘s all-weather lifeboat was launched yesterday lunchtime (Wednesday 21st March) to assist a solo yachtsman who was on passage from Bridlington to Scarborough.
Just before 12.00, UK Coastguard (Humber) requested the launch of Filey’s Mersey Class all-weather lifeboat, Keep Fit Association, to go to the help of the yacht, Calanthe, which was experiencing difficulties about 4 miles north-east of Filey Brigg.
A short time later, in a freshening wind, the ALB launched under the command of volunteer coxswain, Alex Harrison, with Ian Butler, Sam Cross, Fraser Haddington, Jules Macauley, Liam Frampton and Mark Gasson as crew. Filey Coastguard Rescue Team were deployed to Filey Country Park to keep the yacht under observation until the lifeboat arrived on scene.
When the ALB reached the yacht, the decision was made to tow it to Scarborough where both boats arrived just before 2pm. The yacht was looked after by Scarborough Borough Council Port Staff and Scarborough Coastguard Rescue Team and the yachtsman, who had injured his back, was checked over but fortunately was nothing more than shaken by his experience.
Filey ALB returned to station just before 3pm and was re-housed and made ready for service at 3.30pm.
John Ward, Filey Lifeboat Press Officer said:” The crew did a good job today. The yachtsman did the right thing to ask for assistance and we were soon alongside him. Thank you to Filey and Scarborough Coastguard Rescue Teams and to Scarborough Borough Council Port Staff for their help.”
Notes to editors
- Filey Lifeboat Station was founded in 1804. It currently operates both a Mersey-Class All-Weather Lifeboat and an Inshore Lifeboat. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to Filey Lifeboat Facebook page.
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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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