St Bees RNLI tow in stricken yacht
St Bees RNLI volunteers were paged on Sunday 7 August just after 10.35am to go to the assistance of a yacht with two people onboard in difficulties near St Bees.
The volunteers at St Bees RNLI were requested by Belfast Coastguard to go to the aid of a sailing boat with engine failure three miles west of the lifeboat station.
The crew of the sailing vessel were able to give their exact location which made finding them a much easier task. As soon as the lifeboat was alongside the boat the crew established that there had been a loud bang from the engine.
Suspecting that there was damage to the propeller shaft and therefore a risk of sinking, the RNLI volunteers decided that the best option was to tow the sailing boat to the safety of the nearest harbour.
The tide at that time meant it was not going to be possible to enter the harbour for about three hours. As the casualty vessel appeared to be taking on more water than was expected the lifeboat crew made the decision to remain with the boat until there was sufficient water to allow them to enter Whitehaven Harbour.
As soon as the yacht was secured in the harbour the lifeboat returned to the station five and half hours after launching. It was then washed down ready for the next service.
Notes to editors
● St Bees lifeboat station has been operating since 1970. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to http://www.rnli.org.uk/StBees
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Colin Wadey, St Bees RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07742207222 [email protected] or Eleri Roberts, Regional Media Officer on 07771941390 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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.
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