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RNLI lifeboats from Redcar launched after yacht bound for Hartlepool runs aground Alarm raised by an off-duty Redcar RNLI volunteer who saw the yacht run aground approximately half a mile north west of the lifeboat station Lifeboats were launched after a yacht bound for Hartlepool ran aground on rocks at Redcar. The alarm was raised just after 6pm by an off-duty Redcar RNLI volunteer who saw the yacht run aground approximately half a mile north west of the lifeboat station. Both RNLI lifeboats from Redcar were launched. Once alongside, the lifeboat crew found that the yacht was hard aground with low tide still almost three hours away.
Dave Cocks, from Redcar RNLI, said: "When our volunteer crew got alongside the yacht, the two men on board told them that one of the men had just bought the yacht and this was their first attempt to sail the yacht. "In an attempt to avoid sailing through the Teesside Wind Farm, they decided to stay close inshore but unfortunately hat brought then into contact with the rocks off Redcar."
The yacht, approximately eight metres in length, was checked for damage and its two-man crew opted to remain on board and await the rising tide. Two RNLI volunteers also remained on board. The lifeboats returned to station and the RNLI crews were placed on standby until low tide when two of the crew walked out to the yacht to recheck its condition. The lifeboats relaunched at 11.30pm and the yacht was refloated at 11.40pm.
The yacht was then escorted by the Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Leicester Challenge III while it made the two-hour passage to Hartlepool under its own engine, helmed by an RNLI crew member. Dave Cocks said: "Neither of the yacht’s crew were able to navigate at night, so two of our crew remained on board for the passage to Hartlepool. "The yacht was not carrying navigation charts so, even if they had been qualified, they couldn’t have plotted a route to the marina at Hartlepool."
Source : Gazette Live
Dave Cocks, from Redcar RNLI, said: "When our volunteer crew got alongside the yacht, the two men on board told them that one of the men had just bought the yacht and this was their first attempt to sail the yacht. "In an attempt to avoid sailing through the Teesside Wind Farm, they decided to stay close inshore but unfortunately hat brought then into contact with the rocks off Redcar."
The yacht, approximately eight metres in length, was checked for damage and its two-man crew opted to remain on board and await the rising tide. Two RNLI volunteers also remained on board. The lifeboats returned to station and the RNLI crews were placed on standby until low tide when two of the crew walked out to the yacht to recheck its condition. The lifeboats relaunched at 11.30pm and the yacht was refloated at 11.40pm.
The yacht was then escorted by the Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Leicester Challenge III while it made the two-hour passage to Hartlepool under its own engine, helmed by an RNLI crew member. Dave Cocks said: "Neither of the yacht’s crew were able to navigate at night, so two of our crew remained on board for the passage to Hartlepool. "The yacht was not carrying navigation charts so, even if they had been qualified, they couldn’t have plotted a route to the marina at Hartlepool."
Source : Gazette Live
