Kyle RNLI called out twice overnight after yacht gets into difficulty

The pagers first sounded at 1.18am, after the UK Coastguard received a DSC emergency message from a yacht in the Plockton area whose anchor was dragging which had resulted in the propeller getting fouled and losing propulsion.

Kyle lifeboat, Spirit of Fred. Olsen, made best speed through windy conditions and rough seas, arriving on scene at 1.40am, by which time the yacht had found a sheltered place to anchor over night. The lone sailor onboard the yacht did not require any assistance at that point so the lifeboat returned to Kyle and was made ready for service by 2.50am.

The pagers then sounded again at 4.26am, after conditions deteriorated further, resulting in the same yacht being dragged towards the rocks despite having 2 anchors out and being in a more sheltered location.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 4.35am, and it was decided the safest course of action for the sailor onboard the yacht, was to take the casualty vessel under tow to a safe location. The crew managed to safely establish the tow despite the weather conditions, and took the vessel into Plockton harbour. As they reached the harbour, Portree lifeboat, who had also been launched, arrived on scene.

Once the yacht was safely moored in Plockton bay, both lifeboats departed the scene with Kyle lifeboat arriving back on station at 6.30am, where the boat was washed down, refuelled and made ready for service.

Jonathon MacKinnon, Helm for Kyle RNLI lifeboat says "The sailor onboard the yacht was extremely experienced, and did a good job to single handedly sail the vessel through some pretty bad weather and find some shelter in Loch Kishorn." "Unfortunately the worsening weather resulted in him ending up in a tricky situation, but our volunteer crew performed brilliantly in some pretty horrendous conditions and have now gone for a well earned nap before they have to head out to their day jobs".

Notes to editors

• These were the 15th & 16th call out of 2024 for the Kyle crew

• Please credit the photo to Kyle RNLI

RNLI media contacts

Andrew MacDonald, Kyle of Lochalsh Lifeboat Press Officer on 07748 707606 or [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, Regional Communications Manager on 07826 900639 or [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, Regional Communications Lead on 07920 365929 or [email protected]

Tom McGuire, Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland on [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 142,700 lives.

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