Walmer RNLI answers Mayday call
Crews from Walmer and Dover lifeboat attend a Mayday call from a stricken yacht.
Walmer’s Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan responded at 5.47pm yesterday, 13 August, along with Dover lifeboat, to a 16-metre yacht with two people on board, which had lost its mast and rigging neat St Margaret’s Bay. Two Walmer crew were put aboard to assess the situation. The mast had somehow sheared and was under the water just being held by lines and shrouds. A crew member from Dover lifeboat also went on board.
After unsuccessfully attempting to roll the sail and de-sail the mast, the decision was taken, with the consent of the skipper, to cut the lines which had to be carried out with a hacksaw. Once finally clear, the mast sank. The yacht had also suffered engine failure. After assessing the situation, and the decision made that undertaking a tow back to Dover Harbour was necessary and the safest way to assist the casualties, Dover’s crew member attached a line.
Walmer crew was recovered at 7.25pm.
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