RNLI Stonehaven crew rescues stranded cruiser

The volunteer crew on the inshore lifeboat launched just after 12:30pm and headed three miles south of Stonehaven to assist the Woodstock just off Tremuda Bay.

On reaching the boat and making sure the three people on board were uninjured, the crew towed the boat into Stonehaven harbour.

There was a good audience for the rescue, as the spring sunshine gave excellent visibility for both the crew and the crowd at the harbour.

The call-out from the UK Coastguard followed straight after a morning of training exercises. And it was the first call-out for trainee helm Malcolm Kinross.

'We’d just washed the boat down, cleaned up and refuelled after the training when the call came in,' said Malcolm.

'It goes to show the importance of preparation because you never know when you’ll be called out. As it was, we launched less than five minutes after the pager message came in.

'The rescue itself went well. I was really pleased with how it went, although I was also grateful to have experienced colleagues on the boat to support me.

'Despite the effect that Covid restrictions have had on the charity, the commitment to continuous training has continued.

'You know you’ve put in hours of training on saving lives at sea, but it’s only when you put that training into practice, you find out how your preparation has paid off.'

Notes to editors

· RNLI Stonehaven lifeboat station has been open since 2014, although the tradition of lifesaving goes back as far as 1854. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/stonehaven-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

Joanna Fraser, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, RNLI Stonehaven, 07977 353 750, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

RNLI online

For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.

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.