Portree RNLI lifeboat rescues sinking yacht

Trent class lifeboat Stanley Watson Barker, which is based at the Isle of Skye RNLI station, was tasked to assist a yacht that had gone aground and was taking on water in Portree bay.

On arrival at the scene, the volunteer crew were instructed by HM Coastguard to assess the situation.

A salvage pump was transferred from the lifeboat to the yacht to help to control the water ingress and remove the immediate danger of the vessel sinking.

The Duty Coxswain then made the decision to tow the stricken yacht to the pier in Portree to prevent it becoming a hazard or causing a further danger.

Stuart Nicolson of Portree RNLI, said:

‘Our volunteer crew members worked really well as a team today in very poor weather and challenging conditions. HM Coastguard asked the crew to assess the situation on arrival at the scene in Portree bay. The Duty Coxswain then decided that the best course of action was to tow the yacht to safety and bring it alongside Portree pier to undergo further inspection and repairs.

‘We were pleased that we were able to assist with a positive outcome and prevent further damage or danger. The situation could have been much worse without the assistance provided by the RNLI today. We’d also like to thank North Skye HM Coastguard Rescue Team for their help.

‘The RNLI is the charity that has dedicated volunteers ready to respond to calls for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no matter the weather conditions.’

The RNLI has been saving lives at sea for over 200 years and relies on donations and support from the public to operate the lifesaving service that it does.

The recent Portree RNLI Open Day raised more than £18,000 for the charity, thanks to the generosity of the local community, visitors and various organisations. Hundreds of people attended the event held on Portree pier on 23 August.

There are over 5,700 volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew members at 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, with a further 4,000 volunteer shore crew members. Our volunteers 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 Robert MacInnes/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

RNLI media contacts

For further information, please contact:

Robert MacInnes, Lifeboat Press Officer at Portree RNLI: 07950 421829 / [email protected]

Richard Smith, 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, [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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.