Two call outs in one day for Tobermory RNLI

The volunteer crew were paged by HM Coastguard shortly before 10.45am to assist a becalmed 11 metre yacht with engine failure, two miles south of Muck in the Small Isles. Once on scene it was established that the casualty vessel had been taken under tow by a passing yacht and making headway at a speed of 3 knots. Due to the slight winds and the faster tow speed of the lifeboat, the decision was made to switch the tow to the lifeboat and make way to Tobermory.

The lifeboat arrived at the pontoons in Tobermory at 2.20pm and the yacht was secured alongside. The lifeboat returned to the berth where she was refuelled and made ready for service by 3.30pm.

The lifeboat was requested to launch again by HM Coastguard at 8.40pm after the ferry MV Clansman had spotted an unmanned kayak as she left Arinagour on the island of Coll, en route to Oban. The crew of the ferry launched their fast rescue craft and recovered the kayak, making a mayday call to the Coastguard with concern that there was a person in the water. The MV Clansman and the rescue craft proceeded to search the vicinity whilst the lifeboat was underway to Coll.

Once on scene at around 9.30pm, the lifeboat launched the daughter craft (the Y-boat) and proceeded to the Cairns of Coll on the northeast tip of the island whilst searching the shoreline. At the direction of HM Coastguard, the lifeboat commenced a search pattern southwest from Arinagour whilst the Y-boat searched Loch Eatharna in the vicinity of Arinagour.

The search was joined by Coastguard helicopter Rescue 151 from Inverness and the Coastguard fixed wing aircraft from Prestwick, whilst the Coll Coastguard Rescue Team searched ashore. The search was stood down at 11pm with the owner of the kayak traced safe and well on Coll. With the Y-boat recovered, Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey returned to Tobermory where she was refuelled and made ready for service by 12.30am. The total mileage covered in both ‘shouts’ was 70 miles and the crew spent more than seven hours at sea.

Second Coxswain Dave Underwood said: ‘We would like to extend our thanks to the vessels that assisted with both services today, the passing yacht that took the first casualty vessel under tow and the crew of MV Clansman who went off their route for three hours to assist in the search. The second service was a great example of a multi-agency tasking with several assets working together, thanks to the Coll Coastguard team and the pilots of Rescue 151 and the Coastguard aircraft. Thankfully this turned out to be a false alarm and highlights that it is imperative to make sure that kayaks and paddle boards are clearly labelled with up to date contact details to assist in tracing the owner speedily.’

RNLI media contacts

Leanne Blair, Tobermory RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07711549609 or [email protected]

Natasha Rushby , RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789 [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

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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