
RNLB Helen Comrie launches in response to yacht's call for help
On 21 July 2024, in the midst of our 150th anniversary celebrations, the Longhope lifeboat received a tasking request from HM Coastguard to respond to a yacht in difficulty off the coast of South Ronaldsay.
At Longhope lifeboat station we’ve been extremely busy with a weekend of 150th anniversary celebrations. Today is our station open day meaning that it’s all hands to the pump to get things ready. But, regardless of what’s going on, when the pager goes off, its down tools, drop everything and go.
At 09:11am a tasking request was received from HM Coastguard, citing concerns for a yacht that had lost power and was drifting off course. At 09:25am RNLB Helen Comrie, and her volunteer crew launched, making best speed to the yacht’s position, east of the island of Swona, off the coast of South Ronaldsay. On arrival, it was established that both members of the two-man crew were safe and well, and following an assessment of the situation, a decision was made that the yacht would be towed back to Longhope Harbour to await repair.
Hermione Spencer and her husband Hugh are currently on a sailing holiday aboard Sepherse, a 9.75m fibreglass, monohull Contessa 32 yacht. The couple has sailed from Crinan, Argyll, up the west coast of Scotland, through the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands and were planning to make their way home via Inverness and the Caledonian Canal before disaster struck. Hemione said, ‘There was a problem with the engine which completely cut out. There was absolutely no wind, and we were drifting way off course and completely helpless. It was a bit scary, I had one eye on a rocky island close by, wondering if we would end up there. It was wonderful to see the lifeboat approaching, we were so pleased. We are so grateful.’
Trainee Coxswain, Steve Rhodes said, ‘It’s good to be able to put all our training into practice and we worked really well as a team to bring the vessel back to Longhope safely. Demonstrating we’re effective at saving saving lives at sea on our 150th anniversary day, for which we arrived back for the celebrations just in time.’
The RNLI is a charity, solely reliant on donations from the public, so it was fitting that our latest launch took place on our open day. This is a day when we not only celebrate the work our station does but also work to raise funds to ensure that the RNLI can continue its mission of saving lives at sea—a mission we have embraced here at Longhope RNLI for the last one hundred and fifty years. The kindness and generosity of our supporters ensures that our we can continue our mission for the next one hundred and fifty years.
Notes to editors
· Longhope lifeboat station has been operating since 1874 and celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2024. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: Longhope Lifeboat Station (rnli.org)
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RNLI Press Office, 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 146,000 lives.
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