Kyle RNLI called to yacht aground near Eilean Donan Castle
Kyle lifeboat was called out to assist the yacht, with 3 persons onboard, which had suffered an engine failure and ran aground at Totaig on Loch Duich.
Kyle lifeboat Spirit of Fred. Oslen launched at 3:16pm yesterday (Tuesday 25th August), after the 22 foot yacht Pegasus suffered an engine failure and ran aground at Totaig, opposite Eilean Donan Castle. The lifeboat arrived on scene at 3:25pm, by which time the yacht was hard aground with the tide receding rapidly. There was no way to get the vessel back afloat until the tide had come back in, therefore the lifeboat and yacht crew secured the vessel using anchors and lines, before the lifeboat transferred the 3 people to the slipway in Dornie. The lifeboat then returned to station at 4:10pm.
With the tidal conditions it was determined that the yacht would refloat at approximately 11:45pm, therefore to ensure that the vessel was not damaged and was still watertight when it refloated, the lifeboat launched again at 11:00pm. Shortly after midnight the vessel safely refloated and it was determined that it was not taking on water. The lifeboat then took the Pegasus under tow to Kyleakin harbour, arriving shortly before 2:00am. The yacht was secured to the pontoons in Kyleakin and the lifeboat could then return to station, where it was refuelled and made ready for service by 2:30am.
A Kyle RNLI spokesperson, said: ‘The yacht’s engine failed and due to the narrow entrance to the loch and the gusty conditions, the yacht was quickly pushed towards the shoreline. The yacht crew were well equipped and began to deploy their anchor, however the anchor line became jammed and they ran aground before they were able to free it. After running aground, they did the correct thing and called for assistance’.
Notes to editors
· Please credit the pictures to Kyle RNLI
· This is the 15th callout of the year for the volunteer crew
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact:
Andrew MacDonald, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, 07748 707606 or [email protected]
Gemma McDonald, Regional Media Manager (Scotland), 07826 900639 or [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Officer (Scotland), 07920 365929 or [email protected]
Key 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.