Sailor rescued by Hoylake RNLI after yacht’s engine failure in poor weather
When a lone sailor in a 29ft yacht reported that he had experienced engine failure in poor weather on Monday 18 August, Hoylake RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch by HM Coastguard to ensure the casualty's safety.
The vessel was drifting in the adverse conditions and was near to both the busy shipping lanes of the River Mersey and the Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm.
Hoylake RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood and her volunteer crew launched and soon arrived on scene within 20 minutes. With the vessel unable to get underway or reach safe harbour in enough time due to the rough sea and the ebbing tide, it was assessed that the safest option was for the lifeboat to take the yacht under tow.
Hoylake RNLI requested the assistance of New Brighton RNLI’s inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat to identify and help secure the casualty vessel onto a suitable mooring off New Brighton.
The yacht was towed through the Rock Channel by Hoylake RNLI lifeboat and was transferred safely to the New Brighton RNLI volunteer crew, who helped the casualty to take up the mooring. Hoylake RNLI lifeboat was stood down and returned to station, while the yachtsman was taken on board the inshore lifeboat and brought ashore on the Liverpool Landing Stage.
Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Howie Owen said: ‘Mechanical failure is the single biggest cause of rescue call outs to sailing and motor cruisers, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of all RNLI lifeboat launches.’
‘In the challenging conditions, the casualty made the right decision to raise the alarm when his yacht broke down, particularly as he was sailing alone. If you get into difficulty at sea, always call the Coastguard on VHF Channel 16 or by dialling 999.’
Whether sailing or motorboating, check out the RNLI’s advice so you can have fun and stay safe while at sea here: RNLI.org/sailing
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact:
Dan Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 851 316 or email [email protected]
Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager on 07977 728 315 or email [email protected]
RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
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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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