Lytham St Annes Lifeboat volunteers assist lone yachtsman

Misty weather off the mouth of the Ribble Estuary caused worry for his family and HM Coastguard, when a man could not be contacted while bringing his yacht from Holyhead to Preston Dock. Both of the Lytham St Annes Lifeboats were requested by the Coastguard to launch to find the vessel, investigate the situation and render assistance if needed.

The Lytham St Annes RNLI all-weather Shannon class lifeboat (ALB) Barbara Anne with Coxswain Ben McGarry in command, set out at 11.30am to launch into the Irish Sea and headed out to find the missing vessel. Meanwhile Helm Steve Matthews, with two crew members, headed down river in the sation’s inshore lifeboat (ILB) MOAM to join the search.

The ALB found the yacht to the south of the river mouth where it had been anchored for a time waiting for the tide. The skipper had managed to raise the anchor shortly before the lifeboat arrived on scene, but was feeling unwell occasionally so was relieved to have some assistance put aboard the boat to help him out.

Ben skilfully brought the Barbara Anne alongside to transfer two of the lifeboat crew, Will and James, across. With one attending to the running of the yacht and the other checking to the skipper’s welfare, the vessel headed for Lytham escorted by the ALB.

Part way into the Ribble the yacht’s engine started to cut out leaving her at risk of drifting onto the stone training walls which line the channel and probable severe damage if this happened. Assessing the situation, Coxswain Ben realised that due to the erratic behaviour of the engine the only way to get the yacht and her skipper quickly to safety was to tow her as the width of the channel, tide and wind direction restricted the use of the sails.

The ILB had returned to her boathouse when the yacht was found, but as the lifeboat and tow arrived off Church Scar, Lytham, the ILB was re-launched to place a volunteer aboard to give extra casualty care to the skipper whose unwell symptoms came and went.

With no suitable mooring being available at Lytham the three vessels had little alternative but to head for the safety of Preston Dock. At the entrance the ILB took over the tow for the last short distance into the Dock where Marina workers were waiting to help.

The sea charity’s two lifeboats then returned to their respective boathouses to be checked over, washed off and refuelled in readiness for their next call out before the volunteer crew could return home.

Coxswain Ben McGarry later said: 'With the yacht’s engine cutting out and the skipper feeling unwell at times, the only way was to bring the vessel to safety as soon as possible. The main concern was for the man’s welfare.'

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

David Forshaw, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected].

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]

Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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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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