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Launch for Kirkwall RNLI lifeboat – Coxswain praises yacht crew
At 4pm on Sunday 9 August, Kirkwall volunteer crew responded to a call on their pagers from the Shetland Coastguard to assist a yacht in trouble NE of Mull Head, off the East Mainland of Orkney.
The sea was changing from teal to navy as squally showers were brought in on westerly winds, around 22 knots. Although the sea was rough, with swell heights between 2-2.5 metres, the visibility was good. The coxswain brought RNLB Margaret Foster alongside the yacht to allow two crew members to board.
The crew decided that the safest option was to establish a tow line, which was expertly attached. At 8.25pm the casualty vessel was secured at Kirkwall marina and all crew from both boats were safe and well. At 8.33pm RNLB Margaret Foster was ready for her next service.
Stewart Ryrie, Kirkwall RNLI Coxswain, said: ‘The yacht crew did the right thing in making an early call for assistance when they saw water coming in. The volunteer lifeboat crew responded very quickly to their pager request, and we had the boat underway by 4.10pm.
'The crew did a great job establishing the tow and boarding the casualty vessel, which enabled the yacht and her crew to be secured alongside the marina.’
Notes to editors
Kirkwall Lifeboat Station is located within the Scotland lifesaving region. A total of 36 lives were saved in 2024 by lifeboat crews in Scotland and a further 881 people were aided by the brave and selfless actions of volunteer crews.
Volunteer crew and shore crew are on call 24/7, 365 days a year.
The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It is a charity and celebrated the 200th anniversary in 2024. The RNLI depends on volunteers, fundraising and donations.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Erica Niven, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Kirkwall, [email protected]
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok 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.