Lifeboat comes to aid of yacht

THE LERWICK lifeboat crew launched on Tuesday evening assist a 10-metre yacht which encountered steering difficulties north-east of the island of Mousa.

The Norwegian-registered vessel with four adults on board left Fair Isle earlier in the day but ran into difficulties east of Mousa after the rudder worked loose, leaving the yacht without any steering.

At the request of HM Coastguard, Lerwick lifeboat launched just after 6pm, reaching the stricken yacht just 30 minutes later, about two nautical miles from Mousa.

A decision was made to take the vessel under tow and the lifeboat and yacht arrived in Lerwick Harbour around 8.15pm, with the yacht brought safely alongside a pontoon in the Albert Dock.

Lifeboat coxswain Stephen Manson said: “Our crew were pleased to be able to assist this yacht to the safety of Lerwick Harbour.

“Although sea conditions were quite calm, it would have been a long and uncertain night ahead for this yacht’s crew, having lost their steering.

“We’re glad that their boat is now tied up safely in Lerwick where they can carry out repairs.”