First shout for Coxswain as Port St Mary RNLI lifeboat assists yacht
Port St Mary RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched with seven volunteer crew at 7.48pm on Sunday 3 May 2026, after HM Coastguard requested assistance to a yacht approximately one mile south of the Calf of Man, near Chicken Rock Lighthouse.
The yacht had experienced mechanical difficulties. Port St Mary’s all-weather lifeboat Henry Heys Duckworth arrived on scene at 8.10pm and found the lone occupant safe and well.
Following an assessment, towing was deemed the safest option. While there was no immediate danger to life, the vessel posed a potential hazard to navigation as light winds and a broken gear box meant the vessel was unable to make progress. Conditions were favourable, and with the owner’s agreement, the coxswain authorised the tow and the vessel was brought to the nearest harbour, Port St Mary.
The vessel was taken under tow and brought safely to Port St Mary, where it was secured on a mooring. The lifeboat was then refuelled and made ready for service again by 10pm.
The launch marked Coxswain Rob Marshall’s first shout in the role, Rob said:
‘I’m really pleased with how everything went and how the crew performed. We had already been out on exercise earlier in the day, so it was a long day for some, but this is exactly what we train for.
‘The skipper was able to contact the Coastguard, which meant we could locate the vessel quickly. I would also like to thank all of the team at Port St Mary RNLI Station, Isle of Man Harbours and Coastguards, their work on shore makes rescues like this possible.’
The RNLI reminds all boat users of the importance of regular maintenance, carrying appropriate means of calling for help, and planning ahead before going to sea.
RNLI Media Contacts
RNLI Media Contacts
For more information, please contact Gavin Callow, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on or
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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.
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