Largs Volunteer Crew Alert During Pager Upgrade
During an important COACS upgrade of the paging system at Largs lifeboat station a request from HM Coastguard to attend a yacht with engine failure and two persons on board.
The 12 meter yacht was located at the South West end of the Island of Bute, on examination the lifeboat crew established that weed in the propeller was the cause of the engine stopping, a lifeboat crew member entered the water and freed up the fouled prop.
Once the prop was free of weed the engine could once again be started and the yacht was able to be on her way escorted by the lifeboat to the South end of Little Cumbrae Island where the two persons on board the yacht expressed their satisfaction that all was running well as it should and they were confident enough to proceed without escort.
At this point the lifeboat R A Wilson was stood down and returned to station to be ready for her next service.
According to RNLI records this is the first time a shout has taken place during a COACS upgrade.
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