ALB SHOUT 44: 31-08-2024

Incident Date	31-08-2024
Launch Instruct	18:55
Lifeboat Used	ALB
Location of Casualty	Channel area.

This shout followed multiple reports to HM Coastguard by commercial vessels, of a sailing yacht going around repetitively in small circles near Channel traffic lanes, 27 miles south east of Berryhead.
With no response to HM Coastguard’s calls on Channel 16 to reach the yacht, and weather conditions worsening (aleady at Force 4 easterly winds and choppy seas), it was decided to send out the ALB to investigate.
Our volunteer crew launched at 6:55pm.
Upon reaching the yacht at 7:56pm, which was indeed going in circles and nobody on deck, our crew hailed the vessel by voice.
A solitary sailor appeared who turned out to be German, and was en route from Holland to Ireland.
Fortunately, our Coxswain had studied German at A’Level, so took over conversing with the casualty (… in English – but with a strong German accent).
Perhaps more fortunately, the casualty was actually fluent in English, and so was able to explain he was only circling whilst fixing a small steering issue below deck, and therefore didn’t understand the reason for the Call out.
Once his issue had been fixed, his radio tuned onto Channel 16 and his yacht safely back on its way, our crew returned to station, arriving back at the boathouse and ready for service by 10:05pm.

ALB returned to station at 5:55pm.