Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI called into action twice in one day

The volunteer crew at Kyle RNLI were called out twice on Saturday, going to the aid of a yacht which had run aground at Applecross and then three hours later they were on their way to rigid inflatable boat (rib) in trouble north of Duirinish, writes Mark Entwistle.

The Kyle lifeboat Spirit of Fred. Olsen first launched at 12:40am after the yacht issued a Mayday call in the Applecross area after losing all electrical power, dragging its anchor and ending up aground on rocks.

After battling rough conditions, the lifeboat arrived on scene at 1am, and with the assistance of another nearby yacht, managed to locate the striken vessel which was completely in darkness.

A crew member was put onboard the yacht to assess the situation and make sure the two people on board were not injured. The lifeboat then managed to tow the yacht free, and the crew managed to recover the dragging anchor onto the vessel.

After it was established that there was no major damage or water ingress, and with the yacht’s engine running, but no other electrical power meaning they had no navigation equipment or lights, it was decided the safest course of action was for the yacht to follow the lifeboat back to Kyleakin harbour.

At 3.30am the yacht was safely escorted into the harbour and the lifeboat returned to the station at 3.45am.

It was 12 hours later, at 3.51pm, that the crew pagers sounded once again, after a seven-metre rib with five people and a dog on board, broke down in the Duirinish area and drifted onto the rocky shoreline. The lifeboat arrived on scene at 4.15pm and managed to attach a tow to the casualty vessel, before proceeding with it slowly through rough seas towards Kyleakin harbour. At 5.15pm they arrived in Kyleakin where a local UK Coastguard unit was waiting to assist.

With the vessel secured and all persons and the dog safe, the lifeboat was then stood down and returned to station where it was refuelled and made ready for service by 5.40pm.