Yarmouth RNLI launched in response to a Mayday call from a lone sailor onboard a yacht some 14 miles south of The Needles last night (Saturday), spending several hours at sea in deteriorating conditions.
The All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) was tasked by Solent Coastguard at 21:11 to assist a 42ft yacht reporting engine failure with the only crew member on board suffering from an injury.
Volunteer lifeboat crew headed west out of Yarmouth where they rendevoused with Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter, with a paramedic winched onto the lifeboat in preparation to treat the casualty.
Once on scene, the ALB deployed the onboard ‘Y’ boat in order to put 2 crew members and the helicopter paramedic on board the sailing yacht ‘Pointe North’ to assess the situation.
It was soon discovered that the sailor was disabled by severe seasickness, extreme cold and fatigue. He was transferred back to the lifeboat along with the paramedic, with the 2 lifeboat crew members remaining on board the casualty vessel to sail it back to Yarmouth.
Working in the dark, with 20 knots of westerly wind and moderate to rough sea conditions, the decision was taken for Yarmouth RNLI to make good speed to bring the sick sailor to the safety of Yarmouth Harbour by boat and to make a transfer of the winchman to Rescue 175 in the shelter of the Solent before then recovering the broken down yacht.
The lifeboat arrived back in Yarmouth just before 01:00 with the unwell sailor brought ashore.
A change of lifeboat crew was made before the Severn-class lifeboat made its way back to the south of the Isle of Wight to escort the stricken vessel.
As the conditions remained rough, it was safer for the boat to be sailed back rather than being taken under tow for the 3-and-a-half hour passage. Onarrival at the entrance to the harbour an alongside tow was established in order to safely moor the boat.
The incident was brought to a close some 7-and-a-half hours after it began..
Well done Howard and crew as always a good job done. Often in my thoughts you all do a brilliant job. Stay safe.
How fantastic are these guys? We are extremely lucky to have them to call on. Well done and thank you for giving up your time.