Floundering sailing vessel triggers RNLI New Brighton lifeboat launch
Volunteer crew launched the RNLI inshore lifeboat at 8.55pm on Wednesday 16 May to assist a yacht in difficulty north of Fort Perch Rock.
Both RNLI New Brighton lifeboat crew and Merseyside Fire and Rescue’s Mersey Fire 1 (MF1) were tasked to the 24-foot vessel after a lone sailor tried to steer over a sea defence wall on his way to Fiddlers Ferry.
On reaching the near-capsized yacht, RNLI lifeboat volunteers guided the vessel to safety before boarding to check the casualty for any injuries. RNLI crew remained onboard while the RNLI lifeboat escorted the yacht to Tranmere and MF1 was stood down.
RNLI New Brighton Lifeboat Helm Jay Hennessy said: ‘The sailor was acting on the advice of a friend and was waiting for the tide to rise before going over the stone sea defence, in an area we know locally as Murphy’s Gutter. Unfortunately, he miscalculated that which very nearly saw the yacht capsize.
‘Once at Tranmere, we again checked both the man – who wasn’t injured – and his yacht, to ensure all was safe and secure before leaving.’
The RNLI lifeboat and crew were back at the station by 11pm.
Sea conditions throughout were flat and calm, with a two-to-three knots north-easterly wind.
Key facts about the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
Learn more about the RNLIFor more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiriesMembers of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.
The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of IrelandKey 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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.