Lone Yachtsman Rescued After Becoming Disorientated in Walney Channel
A lone yachtsman was brought to safety by Barrow RNLI after becoming disorientated in Walney Channel late on Sunday night.
HM Coastguard requested help at 11.23pm on August 2 after receiving reports that the man was experiencing difficulty while entering the channel at Haws Point.
He was sailing alone aboard a six-metre, or 20-foot, yacht.
Barrow Lifeboat Crew Called Out
The volunteer crew at Barrow RNLI was paged following the call from HM Coastguard in Holyhead.
Barrow’s inshore lifeboat, Raymond and Dorothy Billingham, launched at 11.41pm. Jonny Long was at the helm, accompanied by three crew members.
The lifeboat located the yacht to the east of Piel Island, a short distance from Barrow Lifeboat Station.
Once alongside, the crew assessed the situation and decided that towing the vessel was the safest option. This also prevented the yacht from becoming a possible hazard to other boats using the channel.
One RNLI volunteer transferred onto the yacht to secure the tow and help lower its sails.
Yacht Towed Back to Roa Island
The yacht and its lone occupant were safely towed back to Roa Island.
The vessel was then secured to a suitable mooring and made safe. The lifeboat returned to the boathouse at 12.20am on Monday, August 3.
Members of the shore crew helped rehouse the lifeboat and prepare it for its next call.
The weather was described as good at the time of the incident. An easterly Force 4 wind was recorded, while the next high tide was expected at 2.49am with a predicted height of 8.9 metres.
No injuries were reported during the rescue.
Second Recent Yacht Call in Walney Channel
The incident came less than a month after Barrow RNLI was called to another yacht in Walney Channel.
On July 6, volunteers assisted a 14-metre yacht which had run aground near East Scar, south-east of Piel Island. The vessel was able to refloat as the tide came in before continuing towards Fleetwood.
The RNLI provides a 24-hour search and rescue service around the coasts of the UK and Ireland. Its work is funded mainly through donations and legacies.
Further information about the latest incident can be found in the official Barrow RNLI news release.
