Fleetwood RNLI called to yacht in Fleetwood channel

The crew were paged at 8:02pm on Saturday 28 June, with the Shannon-Class All-Weather Lifeboat Storm Rider putting to sea shortly thereafter to attend a 44-foot yacht with two persons on board that had called for assistance after running aground. Winds were 20 knots from the West-Southwest.

On arrival at the casualty vessel the crew assessed the situation and, with the tide falling, decided to wait for the incoming tide to allow them to secure the vessel along with those aboard. The casualty vessel was consulted and happy for the lifeboat to stand by.

As the tide came in, the yacht began to experience further difficulties and her crew advised the lifeboat that their situation appeared to be worsening. The yacht was then lifted by a large wave and brought back down, and the yacht’s crew reported that they were now taking on water just as the vessel’s keel detached from the hull, causing the yacht to capsize and deposit her crew in the water.

At this point Fleetwood Lifeboat declared an emergency and HM Coastguard Holyhead tasked a helicopter to assist. Supporting assets from the charity’s Blackpool station were also paged alongside Fleetwood’s own Inshore Lifeboat Harbet.

Daryl Randles, Coxswain of Storm Rider, made use of his years of experience and local knowledge to use the incoming tide and surf to manoeuvre the boat into the surfline, enabling them to secure the casualties and then bring the boat back out stern-first into the weather. With the casualties safe, Storm Rider made for Fleetwood Lifeboat Station and the other supporting assets were stood down.

The casualties were brought ashore and placed in the care of North West Ambulance Service, who ensured that they were in good health. The casualties were cold and wet, but uninjured.

Andrew Wilson, Launch Authority at Fleetwood RNLI, said ‘The Shannon is an incredible boat, but she’s only as good as the people on board and the training we give them. Our volunteers’ quick thinking and decisive action in a rapidly-changing situation put Storm Rider to her best use, and I can’t commend them highly enough.’

The crew were paged once more on Sunday morning at 6:30am to recover the casualty vessel, which had floated free from the sandbank and become a danger to shipping. The vessel was towed to place of safety in the River Wyre.

Notes to editors

• Fleetwood’s RNLI Inshore Lifeboat is named HARBET and is a D-Class boat.

• Fleetwood’s RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat is named STORM RIDER and is a Shannon Class boat. The regularly-assigned boat, KENNETH JAMES PIERPOINT, is currently undergoing maintenance.

• Fleetwood lifeboat station has been operating since 1859. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: http://fleetwoodlifeboat.org.uk/

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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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