Blyth RNLI newest helm escorts yacht back to the Port of Blyth
Jordan Holmes had only completed his helm pass out less than a week ago when he experienced his first shout.
On Sunday 11 October at 11.25am, the volunteer helm plus two volunteer crew members responded to their pagers to come to the assistance of a yacht named Wavelength.
The Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat was launched and proceeded south from the Port of Blyth and came across a yacht, which it was quickly established was not Wavelength.
The volunteer crew then looked and sighted another yacht around 0.5 to one nautical mile east from their current position.
Having proceeded to this vessel, it was confirmed to be the yacht Wavelength. The two persons on board the yacht had rigged some sort of emergency steering but requested the lifeboat to follow them into safety of the Port of Blyth.
After following the yacht for approximately 20 minutes, they reached the safety of the Port of Blyth and required no further assistance from the lifeboat.
UK Coastguard were informed of this and were happy for the lifeboat to return to the lifeboat station at 12.15pm.
The yacht was met by the local Blyth coastguard team.
Commenting on his first shout Jordan said,'“It was quite something to find myself helm of the lifeboat less then a week after passing out as a B Class helm.
What made it easier for myself and the crew was that the crew of the yacht were very well prepared and had the situation in hand once we arrived. The experienced crew had rigged emergency steering on the yacht and only required us to escort them to the safety of Blyth harbour.It was great for us to see that the yacht crew had all the correct means of calling for help and had all the correct safety equipment onboard.'
RNLI Media Contact
Robin Palmer Volunteer Crew Member and Lifeboat Press Officer
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Mobile 07801 290638
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