Torbay RNLI assist multihull yacht being blown uncontrollably into the Channel

In Force 8 winds and turbulent sea conditions, the trimaran’s crew were unable to release the sail and were heading into the channel at an estimated 5 knots of speed. The skipper’s use of a sea anchor was slowing her down - but only marginally. And the yacht’s outboard motor was even less effectual as the sea’s swell kept lifting the motor’s blades completely out of the water. With darkness looming the skipper radioed out a PAN-PAN call, which was picked up by HM Coastguard.

Following RNLI Torbay’s tasking, her volunteer crew were immediately paged and arrived at the boathouse where they kitted up and launched the station’s Severn Class All-weather lifeboat (ALB) ‘The Alec and Christina Dykes’ at 7:23pm. It took 27 minutes to reach the beleaguered trimaran, by which time she was lying 3-4 miles off Hope’s Nose.

Given the yacht’s vulnerability in the prevailing conditions, our coxswain decided the safest course of action would be to tow her to the safety of Brixham harbour.

That meant taking down her sail and setting up a towline, which in turn required a member of our crew transferring over to the vessel to make it happen. However, it soon became clear that sea conditions made a simple come-alongside-and-jump-across too hazardous. The safer option was to launch the Y-boat RIB on the ALB by crane, and motor across. This too is no easy task in heavy winds and sea, but it is a feat often practiced by our crew on exercise.

All went according to plan; a Torbay crew member transferred over, sails were dropped and a towline was successfully set up.

The lifeboat duly commenced towing at 8:50pm and the yacht was safely brought back to Brixham where she was moored onto the town’s Events pontoon exactly two hours later.

James Hoare, acting coxswain said; ‘Sea conditions were deceptively challenging, but it was a textbook piece of work by our crew and everybody was brought home safely. The casualty skipper was totally right to call in the PAN-PAN, especially because a few hours later, he would have been struggling out in the mid channel in complete darkness. Overall, a job well done.’

The two casualty crew were both physically well and although tired by their ordeal, they joined the lifeboat’s crew for a welcome cup of tea and a plate of chips back at Torbay RNLI’s boathouse before departing to a local hotel for the night.

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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