Launch of Anstruther RNLI all-weather lifeboat to a motor cruiser
Launch of Anstruther RNLI all-weather lifeboat to a motor cruiser
Lifeboats News Release
Anstruther RNLI all-weather lifeboat responded to a 999 call on Saturday midday (06 September) to a motor cruiser which had suffered engine failure with a solo sailor onboard, which was drifting very close to the shore south of Crail.
A solo sailor made a distress call to HM Coastguard, as his 31-foot motor cruiser had suffered engine failure, which could not be re-started, and his vessel was drifting perilously close to the rocky shore, 200 meters south of Crail.
Despite a relatively smooth sea, the Force 3 South, South Easterly wind had the potential to make this situation escalate into a serious incident in a matter of minutes.
The request from the Coastguard to launch the Anstruther all-weather lifeboat in order to assess the situation was made at 11.56am and the launch was authorised by the Anstruther RNLI Duty Launch Authority at 11.57am.
By 12.13pm the volunteer Anstruther RNLI crew had assembled, kitted out, been briefed on the situation and Anstruther’s Shannon all-weather lifeboat
Robert and Catherine Steen was in the water and utilising its speed and responsiveness to make its way to the stricken vessel.
With a published speed of 25 knots, Anstruther’s Shannon class lifeboat made the most of the good visibility and smooth sea to enable it to get to the incident in very short order.
By 12.25pm the stricken vessel had been located and by 12.36pm was under tow with a stern tow. The Coxswain assessed the situation prior to undertaking the tow: the vessels’ engine had suffered a complete failure, and the combination of tide and wind direction required a very quick response by the volunteer crew, as by now the motor cruiser was very close to grounding on the rocks off the Crail shore.
The solo sailor was assessed to have no physical injuries but was understandably shocked by how quickly the incident had escalated. By 1.15pm the motor cruiser was towed into Anstruther harbour, the nearest ‘safe and suitable port’, with a bridle tow and moored up to allow a later assessment and repair of the engine.
The casualty was handed over to the awaiting Anstruther RNLI casualty care qualified shore crew who were able to offer immediate support and further assessment.
Once the tides had receded at 5.30pm to allow the Shannon Class lifeboat to be recovered, the Anstruther RNLI all-weather lifeboat
Robert and Catherine Steen was rehoused, washed and refuelled and ready to respond to the next ‘shout’.
Barry Gourlay, RNLI Coxswain for Anstruther’s RNLI Lifeboat, said: ‘This incident quickly escalated and could have easily ended up with the stricken vessel on the rocks, due to the tide drift, and stressed the importance of utilising your boat’s anchor, if safe to do so, to try and minimise the drift and to negate the potential risk to life.
`It is recognised that despite regular maintenance, accidents can happen to anybody, so please, if you find yourself in potential danger, do not hesitate to call the coastguard and seek help before it’s too late.
Notes to editors
The attached picture shows Anstruther RNLI All-weather lifeboat, Robert and Catherine Steen: Credit RNLI.
RNLI media contacts
Deputy Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Anstruther RNLI 07748907702
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.
