Kyle RNLI called to yacht adrift and causing a danger to shipping

Kyle lifeboat Spirit of Fred. Olsen launched at 2.45pm and was on scene in under 2 minutes, where the crew found the vessel with what appeared to be an anchor or mooring line in the water with a large amount of weed attached. 2 crew members were put onboard to check the yacht was empty and try and recover the anchor line, however due to the weight of the line, chain and seaweed they could not pull it in. The crew decided to attach a bouy to the end of the line, untie it from the yacht to enable it to be recovered later, and then tow the yacht to the nearest safe harbour in Kyleakin.

The lifeboat towed the yacht safely into Kyleakin harbour, before returning to station at 3.45pm.

Speaking of the incident, a Kyle spokesperson said ‘The yacht was adrift just outside the Skye Bridge, and was causing a danger to shipping due to the narrow channel. Whilst we were towing the yacht in, a local fishfarm vessel was passing and recovered the anchor line using one of their cranes. It appears that the chain had snapped, however the yacht was safely recovered without any visible damage so it was a good outcome.’

Notes to editors

· Please credit the photos to Kyle RNLI

· This is the second drifting yacht we have been called to within the past 10 days

· For further details about the casualy vessel, please contact the UK Coastguard

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Andrew MacDonald, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, 07748 707606 or [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Officer (Scotland), 07920365929 or [email protected]

Gemma McDonald, Regional Media Manager (Scotland), 07826 900639 or [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789

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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.

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