Wells RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew assist yacht without power at sea.
Wells RNLI all weather lifeboat was tasked at 3.23pm today, 6 May, by HM Coastguard to assist a 9.7m yacht with a crew of one, which was on passage from Lowestoft to Wells-next-the-Sea when she lost all power.
The yacht had been under motor power, as the winds were light and from the North West, which made sailing difficult. On her way, she had picked up a rope which had become entangled around her propeller which disabled her, leaving her to drift.
The all-weather lifeboat launched at 3.38pm on high water and proceeded out of the harbour channel and on toward the last position of the yacht, which was offshore between Salthouse and Weybourne. The lifeboat crew had the yacht in their vision at 4.20pm and went alongside the craft, which had by this time drifted a further two miles eastward in the seaway.
The lifeboat put a crew member on board and assessed the situation. With the NW head wind expected to remaining light overnight, it was decided that the best course of action was to tow the vessel to the safety of Wells Harbour.
The tow commenced at 4.50pm and the lifeboat and yacht arrived off the harbour entrance at 6.50pm. They just managed to get across the Wells Bar on the last of the water on the ebbing tide and manoeuvred safely into the harbour. The yacht was made fast on a swinging mooring in the outer harbour and the crew member was transferred back to the lifeboat, safe and uninjured, which then went ashore for recovery at 7.20pm. It was refuelled and sanitised, ready again for service at 8.30pm.
Media Contacts:
Justine Sykes, Lifeboat Press Officer, Wells Lifeboat Station (07710) 510516 [email protected]
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