
Swanage RNLI responds as yacht suffers engine failure in St Albans tidal race
A 'Mayday' call from a yacht drifting in St Albans tide race resulted in the UK Coastguard requesting the launch of Swanage lifeboat.
George Thomas Lacy, the Shannon class lifeboat, launched and plotted a course to the yacht's reported position, about 1 nautical mile south of the headland. Good speed was made in the fine conditions and the lifeboat quickly located the yacht, which had suffered a fuel leak (which was contained within the boat). One of the volunteer lifeboat crew was placed aboard the yacht and a tow was established.
A strong flood tide helped the boats' passage back towards Swanage, and Peveril Point was rounded about 40 minutes later. After securing the yacht to the lifeboat mooring, volunteers ensured the two crew were happy to stay on board to investigate the fault and arrange an engineer if necessary, before returning the lifeboat to the station.
The lifeboat was re-housed and washed down and the crew were able to return home in time for lunch.
For more information please contact:
Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Charmaine Tideswell, Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer,
[email protected]
Regional Media Manager Hatti Mellor, [email protected]
RNLI press office on 01202 336789 or [email protected]
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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.
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.