Lifeboat rescues lone sailor of stricken yacht

The yachtsman on board his yacht in heavy seas, as Lerwick lifeboat approached. Photo: RNLI Lerwick

The yachtsman on board his yacht in heavy seas, as Lerwick lifeboat approached. Photo: RNLI Lerwick

THE CREW member of a stricken yacht which was taking on water has been rescued by the Lerwick lifeboat in gale force easterly winds.

The lifeboat arrived back in Lerwick just after 5.30pm after having been called out earlier this afternoon to assist the nine metre yacht in rough seas east of Whalsay.

The decision was made for the single crew member to abandon the Norwegian registered yacht and to be taken to Lerwick on board the lifeboat.

The yacht had earlier sailed west across the North Sea from Bergen.

With deteriorating weather, and strong SE winds and sea swell picking up during the day, the yacht was taking in more and more water.

By early afternoon, the yachtsman aboard had issued a ‘Pan-pan’ radio message, requesting assistance from any vessels in the area.

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The Måløy-registered fishing trawler Hargun and UK fisheries protection vessel Hirta both responded to the radio call.

At the request of HM Coastguard, the lifeboat crew were paged at 2.30pm and had launched the lifeboat by 2.40pm.

In rough seas, the Severn-class all weather lifeboat made an average speed of around 23 knots, reaching the stricken yacht around 4pm.

The volume of water aboard the yacht was such that the skipper then made the decision to abandon ship.

Hargun stood by and provided some shelter from the worst of the winds, while the lone sailor was transferred from the deck of the yacht onto the lifeboat.

By early evening, the abandoned yacht was last thought to be drifting east of Out Skerries.

Lerwick lifeboat coxswain Stephen Manson said: “Today’s weather has seen Shetland beaten by the first gales of the Autumn and sea conditions for any small vessel have been challenging.

“The skipper of this yacht was right to call for assistance when his vessel was taking in water, and then made the right decision to abandon ship when he knew that the vessel was lost. The most important thing is that he’s made it safely back to land.”