Girvan Lifeboat launches to grounded yacht

Monday 28th June 2021

At around 9.27pm on Monday evening a call was received direct to the lifeboat station advising of a grounded yacht at the pier end which was in some difficulty, simultaneously 999 calls were being received by HM Coastguard in relation to the same vessel.

Girvan Coastguard rescue team were paged and mobilised to the incident to assess, meanwhile our volunteer crew that were on station having just finished our regular Monday evening training session were requested to launch shortly after.

Our volunteer crew were soon kitted up and launched our all-weather Shannon class lifeboat and headed to the scene.

At this point due to the changing tide and swell created by it and the sand bar at the pier end the yacht was taking quite a a battering and in danger of being smashed against the pier.

Girvan Coastguard teams had placed a fender at the pier end to minimise damage to the vessel and were able to remove one of the casualties from the vessel and up the ladder onto the pier, there was quite a bit of motion affecting the yacht by this time.

With one casualty still aboard, and the vessel still grounded by its keel, Girvan lifeboat crew set up a tow line utilising the latest towing equipment currently being rolled out to all stations, with the imminent danger to the vessel, with it sustaining some damage and therefor loss of power this was the best and safest course of action to prevent loss of life, injury and save the vessel from potential further damage.

The tow was quickly established and the lifeboat had soon pulled the yacht free and clear of the danger of the pier end, with the tide just having turned, there was not enough water to bring the vessel into port at that time.

The decision was made to keep the vessel under tow and head out to deeper water and wait for the tide to rise, a few hours later when the tide had risen enough, the lifeboat brought the yacht safely into Girvan harbour, where she was safely berthed with the assistance of our shoreside crew and Girvan CRT.

The casualty onboard was safe and well although a bit exhausted and was reunited with his wife who was taken off the vessel earlier, Girvan lifeboat crew left them both in the hands of the Coastguard team, with the owner going to check for further damage in the morning, our lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for the next service call. Our crew returned home at 1am for a few hours well earned rest.

If you believe someone to be in danger at sea or on the coast, please don't hesitate and dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard right away.

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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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