Portree RNLI launch to stricken yacht off Rona
The volunteers of Portree RNLI were called to the coast of a neighbouring island on Monday (7 July 2025) to assist a yacht which had lost steering.
Trent class lifeboat Stanley Watson Barker, which is based in the Isle of Skye capital, was requested to launch by HM Coastguard to a position west of the island of Rona, which lies off the famous Trotternish peninsula on Skye and north of the island of Raasay.
The pagers sounded at 3.25pm and the lifeboat launched 10 minutes later.
With a strong north-west breeze blowing, the crew made best speed towards the casualty vessel - which had reported losing steering - and arrived on scene in just over 20 minutes.
Stuart Nicolson, Portree RNLI lifeboat Coxswain, said:
‘Our initial priority was to ensure those onboard the casualty vessel were safe and well. Once this had been established, we assessed the situation to decide the best course of action. With the strong winds and swell conditions, and the yacht liable to drift onto the coast of Rona, the decision was made to undertake a tow into the nearest safe port of Portree.
‘On arrival into Portree, the yacht was secured to a mooring, and the lifeboat was then stood down from the shout by HM Coastguard.
‘I’d like to thank the volunteer crew of Portree RNLI for their swift response, particularly given the challenging weather conditions. The fact that we were on scene in just 30 minutes of the pagers sounding means that we were able to assist with a successful outcome for the casualty vessel, particularly given its close position to the coast of Rona.’
This is the second shout to the island of Rona for the Portree RNLI lifeboat this year. In February, the volunteers were tasked with assisting a casualty who had fallen and injured themselves on the island.
The RNLI is a charity that has been saving lives at sea for over two hundred years. Our volunteer crew members are on call and ready to respond to calls for help 24 hrs a day, 365 days of the year.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- All photos in this press release are credited to Portree RNLI.
- Portree Lifeboat Station was established in 1991 and operates a Trent class all-weather lifeboat – ‘Stanley Watson Barker’. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/portree-lifeboat-station
- To read more about the shout to Rona in February, click here: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2025/february/20/portree-rnli-called-to-island-of-rona
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For further information, please contact:
Robert MacInnes, Lifeboat Press Officer at Portree RNLI: 07950 421829 / [email protected]
Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland: 07826 900639 / [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland: 07920 365929 / [email protected]
RNLI Press Office: 01202 336789 or [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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