Bridlington RNLI called to assist yacht with fouled propeller

Bridlington’s ALB Anthony Patrick Jones was launched at 10:30pm on Friday evening to assist a 12-metre steel yacht, enroute from Spurn Point to the north of Scotland, which had lost power due to a fouled propeller, 13 miles south east of Bridlington. As it was an exceptionally still night the skipper could not make way under sail due to a lack of wind and had lost the use of the yacht’s engine which was rendered useless due to the fouled propeller leaving the skipper without power.

The volunteer lifeboat crew of the Shannon Class lifeboat reached the yacht at 11:10pm and one of the Bridlington RNLI crew was put aboard the vessel in order to assist taking the vessel under tow to the nearest safe port at Bridlington.

Both the lifeboat and the yacht arrived safely back at Bridlington at low tide making it impossible to enter the harbour, so both vessels anchored just off Sewerby Cliffs. At 04:15am, with dawn underway, the yacht’s skipper took the decision to don a wet suit and go over the side of the yacht, to clear the propeller of all debris. With the yacht now able to proceed under its own power, the lifeboat arrived back on the beach at 6:32am on Saturday morning (18 June).

Bridlington RNLI Volunteer Coxswain Steve Emmerson said ‘The tasking was a straight forward callout that went according to plan. It is one of the many scenarios that we train for and the skipper of the yacht was a well prepared, experienced seaman who was grateful for the assistance we were able to give them.’

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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