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Yacht Aground ( 30 / 09 ) |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 29 August 2009 |
Largs Lifeboat paged at 16;43 on 29/08/09
Largs Lifeboat was launched to a 44foot yacht aground on Southannan Sands with 9 persons on board. The original call to the local CoastGuard came from a passing rhib which noticed that the yacht was extremely close in to shore at a well known area of shallow water, the skipper of the rhib was also asked to help but due to him being the only person on board at that time he advised the coastguard that it would be best if they tasked a lifeboat
( the skipper is one of the helms on the local lifeboat crew :-) )
Once the Lifeboat was alongside a crewmember was placed on board to check for any water ingress. Once it was found that the yacht had not suffered any damage a tried and tested towing technique was used to remove the yacht from its grounded position,
( this technique is essentially connecting the lifeboats tow line to the Main Sail Halyard which when the lifeboat goes gently ahead tips the yacht onto its side enough to enable the keel to come free from the obstruction, meanwhile if possible the yacht will go astern under its own propulsion. )
After the yacht was in clear water the lifeboat released the tow line and advised the owner to turn the yacht so it was bow into the weather and sea, on doing this the morse system broke which meant that the yacht did not have any propulsion.
Due to this fault it was deemed safer to take the yacht under tow to Largs yacht haven and after 25 minutes the yacht was safely moored alongside a pontoon.
NOTE: The owner of the Yacht had been sitting aground for approx 1 hour before he was noticed by the passing rhib and for this time he had not informed the local Coast Guard, due to this he was given appropriate safety advice by the Lifeboat Crew |
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Motor Vessel out of fuel ( 29 / 09 ) |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 25 August 2009 |
Largs Lifeboat paged at 20:17 on 22/08/09
Largs Lfeboat requested to launch to a small motor vessel with one person on board which had ran out of fuel and was being blown on shore near Toward lighthouse. Once on scene it was found that the craft had been following a sailing dinghy to Toward sailing club and had unfortunately ran out of fuel on route, the young male on board decided that due to the speed the vessel was being blown towards the shore it was best to drop the anchor and wait for assistance. The Lifeboat set up a tow and returned the small vessel to Toward Saiing club.
The Lifeboat the returned to station and was made ready for it's next service. |
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Yacht Fouled on Mooring ( 28 / 09 ) |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 17 August 2009 |
Largs Lifeboat paged at 18:52 on 15/08/09
Largs Lifeboat requested to launch to a report of a yacht with 1 Adult and 2 Children on board in Millport Bay Isle of Cumbrae which had become fouled on its mooring. The Lifeboat launched and made best speed to the yachts position.
Once on scene and after assessing the situation it was agreed with the owner of the vessel that due to the worsening weather conditions ( SW f5 gust to f6 ) that it would be best to transfer the 2 children back to Millport pier, to ensure the safety of the adult 1 crew member was left on board the yacht whilst this transfer took place. Aftere returning to the yacht the lifeboat crew tried a couple of times to free the yacht from the mooring line, unfortunately this did not work, the Lifeboat helm then decided that due to the worsening weather conditions, wind now constant f6 it would be best if the owner of the yacht was also transferred to Millport Pier, after some gentle guidance and advice from the lifeboat crew the owner agreed that this was also the best plan.
Before departing the yacht the lifeboat crew made the yacht as safe as they could by securing the yacht to the pick-up bouy and the owners tender which had been tied to the actual mooring, the lifeboat then transferred the owner to the pier where he was landed safely.
The lifeboat then returned to station and after a slightly more rough and wet passage was recovered and refuleed and made ready for its next service.
"EDIT to above "
During the crews Sunday exercise the owner of the above yacht came to the boathouse to say thank you to the crew for their turn out and also to explain that during the night the wind direction changed enough to actually release the yacht from the mooring line. Thankfully the line that the crew had used to secure the yacht did its job and held the yacht safely on the mooring. The owner expolained that if it wasnt for the line the yacht would certtainly have floundered on the rocky shore. |
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Vessel taking On Water ( 27 / 09 ) |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 10 August 2009 |
Largs lifeboat paged at 12:57 on 08/08/09
Largs lifeboat was tasked to a vessel off Wemyss Point which had reported that it was taking on water, once onscene the lifeboat found that the vessel was able to proceed under its own power back to Inverkip Marina, as a precautionary measure the lifeboat escorted the vessel back. Once the vessel had made it safely abck to the marina largs lifeboat was released and returned to statioon where it was made ready for the next service call. |
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yacht with eng failure ( 26 / 09 ) |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 10 August 2009 |
Largs Lifeboat paged at 17:26 on 05/08/09
largs lifeboat requested to launch by Clyde coastguard after they had received a mobile phone call from a male stating that his yacht had developed engine trouble and at the time was struggling to sail towards Largs. The gentleman also stated that he was not sure of his current position but thought he was South of largs yacht haven.
The lifeboat launched and whilst on route to the position given by the gentleman the lifeboat was flagged down by 2 males on a yacht approx 0.5 miles from the boathouse, it transpired that this was in fact the casualty vessel and after a few moments the lifeboat placed the vessel under tow and took it back to Largs yacht Haven where the casualty vessel was moored safely.
The lifeboat then returned to station where it was refuelled and launched on a COBT exercise. |
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