| Incident Date | 21-08-2024 |
| Launch Instruct | 04:01 |
| Lifeboat Used | ALB |
| Location of Casualty | Lyme Bay area. |
The request to launch came in from Solent Coastguard at 4.01pm following a May Day from a 11-metre-long sailing yacht with six people on board. The vessel reported a complete loss of steerage with a position 23 nautical miles southeast of Berry Head, facing deteriorating conditions and drifting without control.
By the time the ALB reached the casualty vessel their crew had managed to improvise an emergency tiller but were making no head way as they faced breaking waves up to 4 metres in height. Given that conditions were worsening, and the vessel was drifting closer to the mid-Channel’s Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), plus her VHF comms were very poor, it was decided to take her under tow to Dartmouth.
Upon reaching Dartmouth at 8.50pm, Dart Nav rafted up to the casualty vessel and placed her onto a visitors’ berth at Darthaven marina, which they had made available.
Once checks were made to ensure everyone aboard the casualty were okay, our ALB returned to Brixham, arriving at 11.00pm, refueled and was back at station by 11:30pm.
Torbay Lifeboats 