Lifeboat rescues yacht from rocks

ISLAY RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was called to the aid of a yacht that had run aground in Lagavulin Bay on Monday June 27

espite fair conditions, with a rising tide and a moderate northwest wind, the grounded yacht, the Equinox, which was carrying a crew of four, was being driven further onto the rocky shore.

Islay RNLI lifeboat Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II was launched at 3.51pm and reached the stranded yacht at 4.55pm.

However, coxswain David MacLellan deemed it too hazardous to take the lifeboat into the shallow rocky bay. Instead the Y boat was sent in to assess the situation.

A decision was made to run lines from a rock with a mooring iron on the opposite side of the bay to the yacht to hold her in position. This was successfully undertaken with the help of the Coastguard. Finally, the Equinox was able to be winched off the rocks as the tide rose with no obvious damage to her hull.

Once the yacht was clear of the rocks, the Y boat was sent in to lift her anchor and the vessel was able to manoeuvre onto a mooring buoy in the bay.