Barrow Lifeboat Assists Stranded Yacht After Engine Failure
Barrow RNLI volunteers were called out to assist a yacht that had suffered engine failure in Morecambe Bay.
The crew launched their inshore lifeboat on Sunday afternoon after receiving a request for help from HM Coastguard.
Emergency Call and Response
The alert was raised at 12:41pm, with reports that a 28-foot yacht carrying one person had broken down around one mile east of Haws Point.
The lifeboat, Raymond and Dorothy Billingham, launched shortly after at 1:05pm with a crew of three on board.
They reached the vessel within 15 minutes to assess the situation.
Engine Failure at Sea
On arrival, the RNLI crew found the yacht’s engine had overheated and stopped working, leaving it unable to continue its journey.
With the risk of the vessel becoming stranded as the tide changed later in the day, a decision was made to take it under tow.
Yacht Brought to Safety
The lifeboat crew safely towed the yacht to a secure mooring, preventing it from running aground.
The operation was completed without incident, and the lifeboat returned to station at around 2:40pm, where it was prepared for future callouts.
Conditions at the Time
Weather conditions during the rescue were described as calm, with a light westerly wind (Force 2–3) and high tide shortly after the incident.
These conditions helped the crew carry out the tow safely and efficiently.
Busy Weekend for Volunteers
The launch marked the second callout of the weekend for the Barrow RNLI team, highlighting the ongoing demand placed on volunteer crews.
What It Means
The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly situations can change at sea, even in relatively calm conditions.
RNLI crews continue to respond to a wide range of incidents across the Cumbrian coast, helping to keep people safe on the water.
