Yarmouth RNLI was called to assist a 56ft yacht yesterday evening (Thursday) and again during the early hours of this morning, resulting in 2 shouts in less than 12 hours for the volunteer crew.
The yacht Wallybird II, with a lone skipper, had run aground on Hamstead Ledge rocks in the Western Solent yesterday afternoon. As the tide dropped, the aground yacht heeled over steeply with the result that the skipper could not deploy his anchor in preparation for refloating. The skipper called for assistance at 18:30 resulting in Solent Coastguard tasking Yarmouth Lifeboat to his aid.
The small rigid inflatable Y-boat from the All Weather Lifeboat was deployed at the scene and dropped the casualty yacht’s anchor.
At 03:30 this morning the lifeboat was once again called to the aid of Wallybird II. Although the skipper had managed to pull himself clear of the rocks as his yacht floated, it was only then that he discovered that his propeller had been damaged and he was unable to manoeuvre. With little or no wind the skipper was unable to sail and was drifting helplessly towards Yarmouth Pier.
Yarmouth RNLI reached the casualty for the second time at just before 04:00 and took him in tow into Yarmouth Harbour, arriving safely at 04:30.
Featured photo: Yarmouth RNLI
