Scarborough RNLI to the rescue when lobster pot lines snare yacht

Lifeboats News Release

Both Scarborough RNLI lifeboats launched last night (Sunday/Monday 23/24 August) when a big yacht sailed into lobster pot lines six miles north.

Scarborough RNLI lifeboat crew members at the scene

RNLI/John Huntley

Scarborough RNLI lifeboat crew members at the scene

It was an overcast, dark night with no moonlight so the yacht had no chance of spotting the white canisters floating on the surface without a light or a flag.

The all-weather Shannon class lifeboat crew used a grappling hook to pull close to the beleaguered vessel, which was sailing from Inverness to Lowestoft.

A crew member boarded the craft and managed to cut one of the pot lines loose, releasing the propeller. But a second one was inaccessible, being trapped under the hull while jamming the rudder.

The lifeboat escorted the 12m yacht close to shore while summoning its smaller partner, the inshore lifeboat, whose crew were able to reach low enough to cut the propeller free.

The Shannon launched at about 10.30pm, followed by the inshore lifeboat at about 12.40am. The volunteer lifeboat crews, six on the Shannon, three on the inshore lifeboat and four on shore, were finished by 3am. The sea was calm with a light swell.

RNLI Media contacts

For details, please ring Scarborough RNLI press officer Dave Barry on 07890 322992.


Lifeboat crew disentangle the pot-lines

RNLI/John Huntley

Lifeboat crew disentangle the pot-lines

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