Peterhead RNLI crew spend 22 hours at sea in one of their longest rescues

Peterhead RNLI’s seven-strong volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 9.48pm on Tuesday 10 November, following a tasking request at 9.31pm to assist an 11-metre yacht that had encountered difficulties after departing Norway. The crew were requested to provide an escort and stand by to tow if required.

Two offshore standby vessels had transferred diesel to the yacht, but with its sails stripped, it was making only one to two knots towards Peterhead. There were concerns that the sailor did not have sufficient fuel to reach harbour, and no other suitable assets were available to provide further assistance.

Following a passage of approximately 105 nautical miles and a short search, Peterhead’s crew located the yacht at around 2.30am, approximately 100 nautical miles north-north-east of Peterhead. With the yacht struggling to make headway in deteriorating conditions, the crew assessed the situation and established a tow towards home.

Conditions improved slightly as daylight approached. However, as the day wore on and the weather worsened, the yacht began to suffer water ingress, bringing further challenges. With approximately 30 nautical miles and five hours’ travel remaining, Peterhead requested assistance from Fraserburgh RNLI to transfer a pump if required.

With daylight fading and both lifeboats in attendance, the yacht’s bilge pumping systems failed. Fraserburgh’s crew attempted to transfer a pump while Peterhead altered course and continued towing to reduce the yacht’s movement.

Passing squalls made the transfer too dangerous to complete safely, and the attempt was abandoned. Peterhead continued the tow, with Fraserburgh remaining close in case the sailor needed to abandon the yacht.

The yachtsman managed the water ingress manually for the remaining two hours of the passage. Once inside Peterhead Bay, Peterhead’s volunteers transferred a salvage pump and crew members aboard to pump out the yacht before escorting it into harbour.

A group of Peterhead’s volunteer shore crew met the returning lifeboats and, together with local Coastguard teams, helped secure the yacht alongside at 7.15pm, following approximately 90 nautical miles under tow. The shore crew then washed down and refuelled the lifeboat, ensuring it was ready for service once again.

Patrick Davidson, volunteer Coxswain at Peterhead RNLI, said:

‘I knew this was going to be an epic duration due to the distances involved, and I must praise my crew for their professionalism and tireless efforts throughout, as at no point could they switch off. They all needed to keep focus.’

He also thanked Fraserburgh RNLI for their support during the final passage home, and the vessels that relayed communications between Peterhead Lifeboat and Aberdeen Coastguard throughout the night and following day.

Both lifeboat crews and the sailor were welcomed at Peterhead station with a meal prepared by crew members’ wives, a gesture greatly appreciated after the lengthy operation.

For Peterhead’s volunteers, the commitment extended to approximately 24 hours from the pager call to finally getting home.