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Two call outs in 24 hours for Tobermory RNLI’s volunteer crew

Lifeboats News Release

Tobermory RNLI’s volunteer crew responded to two call outs in 24 hours earlier this week – which were Launch Authority Dawn Reade’s first ‘shouts’ since joining in November 2023.

Tobermory RNLI assisting yacht

RNLI/David McHaffie

Tobermory RNLI assisting yacht

Tobermory RNLI’s pagers first sounded on just before 2.30pm on Sunday 9 June 2024 following a report of a distress call from a yacht in Loch Alainn. Tobermory’s volunteer crew were stood down on route when the Caledonian MacBrayne Lochaline ferry made contact with the crew of the yacht and established that all was well.

The pagers sounded a second time on the afternoon of Monday 10 June when the volunteer crew were tasked to a 44 foot yacht with six people on board in difficulty between the islands of Gometra and Ulva off the west coast of Mull. The yacht had dragged its anchor and then had suffered engine failure. Despite the best efforts of the yacht’s crew, including replacing the impeller and putting out a second anchor, when Tobermory RNLI’s Severn class lifeboat arrived on scene, the yacht was only ten metres from the shore and a metre from grounding. In difficult conditions with a Force 7 wind, Tobermory’s volunteer crew managed to pass a tow to the yacht using the lifeboat’s daughter craft, the Y boat. The lifeboat then towed the yacht to the pontoon at Ulva Ferry before returning to Tobermory where the lifeboat was refuelled made ready for service after 9pm.

These were the first two ‘shouts’ for Tobermory RNLI Launch Authority, Dawn Reade. Dawn joined as a volunteer in November 2023 but although she has been on duty for a week every month for the last six months, there have been no call outs during her ‘watch’. The launch authority position is a key operational role at a lifeboat station. When a Mayday or 999 emergency call is made to the coastguard, they request assistance from the relevant lifeboat station. It is the job of the duty launch authority to assess the tasking and authorise the launching of the all-weather lifeboat.

Dawn’s RNLI week has continued to be a busy one as on Tuesday night she went out on an exercise with the volunteer crew to help develop her understanding of the capabilities of Tobermory’s Severn class all-weather lifeboat.

RNLI media contacts

Dr Sam Jones, Tobermory RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager/Lifeboat Press Officer, 07747601900, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

Tobermory RNLI Launch Authority Dawn Reade on exercise

RNLI/David McHaffie

Tobermory RNLI Launch Authority Dawn Reade on exercise

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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