Yacht rescue closes busy weekend for Fleetwood RNLI
Having launched twice to aid searches on Friday night (18-19 April), the charity’s volunteer crews were at sea again on Sunday after a yacht encountered difficulties in the Fleetwood Dock Channel.
Pagers were activated at 5:31pm on Sunday 20 April, with the inshore lifeboat Harbet launching shortly thereafter. Conditions were calm, with a seven knot breeze running north north west.
The casualty vessel was a sailing yacht which had run aground in the Dock Channel while making its way into port. The volunteers assisted into the making the vessel safe, providing support as they anchored the vessel. Three passengers were then taken off and brought safely ashore. The lifeboat was returned to readiness at 6:35pm.
One person remained aboard the casualty vessel to secure it until it could be floated off at the next high tide. The vessel was then able to safely enter Fleetwood Marina at approximately 4:30am the following morning.
The charity also launched twice in the early hours of Saturday 19 April, on both occasions to support other agencies in missing persons searches. Both persons were found safe and well by other cooperating agencies.
Andy Wilson, Launch Authority at Fleetwood RNLI said, “one of the most complex parts of navigation is making sure you’re in the right place at the right time, and even then other circumstances like channel depth can surprise you. The skipper here did the right thing and we were able to assist because he called for help as soon as his situation became clear.”
Notes to editors
· Fleetwood’s RNLI Inshore Lifeboat is named HARBET and is a D-Class boat.
· Fleetwood lifeboat station has been operating since 1859. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: http://fleetwoodlifeboat.org.uk
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact David Devereux, Fleetwood RNLI Press Officer, on 07591 675733 / [email protected] Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, West, on 07786 668829/ [email protected] or Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on 07977 728315 / [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.
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