RNLI Invergordon launched to Sailing Vessel in difficulty in Moray Firth.

The RNLI Invergordon lifeboat crew were paged at 10:38am Friday 4th May, launching their Trent Class lifeboat, 'Douglas Aikman Smith' quickly by the request of Aberdeen Coastguard to undertake a search for the White Sailing vessel off the coast of Balintore.

Making best speed up the scenic Cromarty Firth and out through the Sutors into the vast Moray Firth, Coastguard 951 were returning to their Dalcross Base when they offered to do a fly by to help spot the vessel and assess any difficulty it may be in.

The helicopter soon located the vessel approximately 3 miles offshore off Balintore making way under sail, appearing to be in no apparent difficulty.

With the helicopter visual the crew made their way to the vessel and made contact with the sole sailor who was making a passage from Burghead to Inverness Marina, despite suffering difficulty earlier by Balintore trying to get turned into the wind, this was now resolved and making way with a slight swell.

With Aberdeen Coastguard updated the Lifeboat and CRT units on the shore were stood down around 11:20pm.

The Volunteer Crew made their way back to the Lifeboat berth where the Lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service around 12:00pm.

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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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