RNLI Lerwick tasked twice in 24 hours to yacht, and dog owner
Earlier this week, Lerwick Lifeboat crew went to the aid of a 14-metre yacht in difficulties, and rescued a dog and its owner from steep banks at the Knab.
With no other vessels in the area, Lerwick lifeboat was asked to assist, launching at 10.19pm. Sea conditions were poor, with a Force Seven south-easterly wind, and a two to three metre swell. The lifeboat reached the stricken vessel at around 11.30pm, setting off a flare to locate the yacht in darkness.
With the mainsail jammed in the mast, the yacht was sailing at roughly 10 knots, and it was decided the safest course of action was for the lifeboat to stand off and escort the vessel to the safety of harbour.
The lifeboat and casualty vessel arrived in Lerwick Harbour just before 1.00am where the crew of the yacht were finally able to drop the damaged mainsail. The yacht was able to berth alongside the pier under its own power and were met by the Lerwick Coastguard Rescue Team, on hand to assist.
The lifeboat was refuelled and returned to her berth ready for service at 2.00am.
Later on Wednesday evening, Lerwick lifeboat crew were paged at 7.40pm to go the aid of a dog walker in Lerwick, whose young dog had run-off. The owner had scrambled down steep banks on the east side of the Knab, but having retrieved their dog then found they were unable to safely climb back up.
Lerwick Coastguard Rescue team also attended with rope rescue equipment, if it was needed.
It was considered safest to take the dog and its owner off the shoreline by sea and so the lifeboat crew launched their ‘Y-boat’ – a small inflatable used in shallow water – to recover them. Both the dog and its owner were taken aboard the lifeboat, before being safely returned to dry land, around an hour after the lifeboat was launched.
Stephen Manson, Coxswain said: “I’m grateful that both these very different incidents concluded with positive outcomes. Our volunteer crew are trained, equipped and on-call 24/7 to save lives at sea – we never know what incidents we might be asked to launch to.”
RNLI Media Contacts
- Bob Kerr, RNLI Lerwick – Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
- Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
- RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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.