Donate now

Lytham St Annes volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew bring missing yacht owner to safety

Lifeboats News Release

Concern shown for elderly owner reported late in returning from sailing.

Six RNLI crew stand in front of a Land Rover

David Forshaw / RNLI

The Crew on their return from service at 1.40am. from left Nigel Browning, James Stannard (driver), Will Bridge (Helm), Adrian Hogg (launcher), Laurence Foster (head launcher), Chris Penrice

A 26ft (7.9m) fin keel yacht had left Lytham at 10am on Saturday 16 November 2024 to head for a day's sail to Hesketh Bank Boatyard. By the evening with no sign of the vessel, a search from the shore was made of the berths at Lytham Dock and the Hesketh Bank boatyard - but nothing was found.

The owner was a highly experienced yachtsman but worries over their possible health vulnerabilities caused HM Coastguard to request the Lytham St Annes RNLI inshore lifeboat (ILB) MOAM to launch. The ILB was tasked to investigate the whereabouts of the yacht at 10.38pm. They also tasked a Coastguard helicopter based at Caernarfon Airport to join in the search.

With drizzle later turning to rain, a spring tide flooding in quickly and a chilly wind with the temperature falling, it was no place to be in a small yacht in the darkness of the Ribble Estuary surrounded by marshes.

The ILB was launched opposite Seafield Road with volunteer Helm, Will Bridge, in command and crew members Nigel Browning and Chris Penrice. Heading up river the ILB found the missing vessel near the 6 mile perch performing a somewhat erratic course.

Realising the urgency of the situation, Will took the ILB alongside and transferred Chris to the yacht to check the owner was OK and take over the steering to give him a rest after his solo day long sail. The helicopter was stood down to return to base and the ILB proceeded to guide the vessel down river to Lytham Dock, where the Lytham Coastguard Rescue Team were waiting to assist berthing the yacht at a pontoon.

The ILB was recovered at the Ribble Cruising Club slipway at Lytham Dock before heading back to her boathouse by road to be cleaned off, checked over and refuelled, before the crew could leave for their homes and beds shortly after 2am (Sunday 17 November).

Lifeboat Launch Authority Andy Pothecary later said: 'It was a necessary precaution to find the missing gentleman quickly given the deteriorating weather conditions and the isolated and lonely area the yacht was suspected to be transiting over the last twelve hours.'

An Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) with three crew on board heads towards the camera

David Forshaw / Martin Fish

Lytham St Annes ILB D-800

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.

Categories