Newcastle RNLI rescue two people on board broken down yacht
Newcastle’s all-weather lifeboat, Leonard Kent, was launched after the Coastguard received a request for assistance from a yacht which had suffered engine failure.
At approximately 7.10pm on Thursday (8 August) Newcastle RNLI volunteer crew were requested to launch the all-weather lifeboat by the Coastguard who had received a call for assistance from two people on board a 10 metre yacht which had suffered engine failure approximately two miles east of Ballyhornan.
At the time of the launch there was a force 6 south westerly wind and the sea was in a rough state. The Leonard Kent arrived with the yacht at approximately 8:10pm where the swell was up to 4 metres and the force 6 wind persisted.
On arrival with the yacht a volunteer crew member boarded it and assessed the two people onboard to be uninjured but suffering from fatigue. The crew member provided refreshments and blankets while the coxswain assessed the situation.
Given that the yacht was without any power due to the engine failure, had no sail or anchor and the crew members were fatigued in addition to the poor sea and weather conditions, a decision was taken to tow the yacht to the nearest safe port of Ardglass.
Speaking after the call out, Newcastle Lifeboat Launch Authority, Daniel Curran, said: ‘The crew were gathering for weekly training at the lifeboat station when the pagers sounded, so we were able to reach the casualty vessel quite quickly despite the poor conditions. The crew onboard the yacht did the right thing and called the Coastguard for assistance once they identified the engine had failed. We encourage everyone going to sea to ensure they have a working means of communication.’Ends
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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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