Ilfracombe RNLI launched to assist sailing vessel with mechanical problems

The 33 foot sailing ketch Endless Love was on its way from Swansea to Lundy Island when a winch jammed so that the foresail could not be used. The sailor, Mr Jack Bowman, then tried to use the vessel’s motor but found that the engine had also failed. He then put out a pan pan distress call which was picked up by the Falmouth Coastguard who tasked the RNLI Ilfracombe lifeboat to assist.

The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat The Barry and Peggy High Foundation was quickly launched and made its way out to the position where the vessel had made the call some 9 miles off shore from Ilfracombe. Sea conditions were good with a slight North westerly wind and a moderate swell. The lifeboat arrived at the original position where the distress call was made 25 minutes later however due to wind and tide the ketch had drifted. Fortunately as the visibility was excellent the crew were able to spot the mast on the horizon and quickly found the vessel 2 miles from the original position.

Arriving at the ketch the Volunteer Coxswain spoke to Mr Bowman to confirm the situation and then crew member Steve Ashton jumped onto the yacht to secure a tow line. The lifeboat then towed the ketch back to Ilfracombe harbour arriving two and a quarter hours later at just after 4 p.m. where the ketch was secured to a mooring and the lifeboat made ready for the next service.

Mr Bowman says: ‘The lifeboat crew were fantastic’ and thanked the crew for their efforts. Volunteer Coxswain Andrew Bengey says: ‘Today’s rescue shows that even a well prepared, experienced sailor can sometimes get into difficulties, he did the right thing in raising the alarm.’

Today’s shout was also the first service as Lifeboat Mechanic for crew member Matt Parr.

Notes to editors

• Ilfracombe lifeboat station has been operating since 1866. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/ilfracombe
• RNLI Volunteer Coxswain Andrew Bengey is available for interview
• Ilfracombe RNLI station operates a Shannon class all weather lifeboat The Barry and Peggy High Foundation and a D class inshore lifeboat The Deborah Brown II.

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