Kyle lifeboat aids stricken yacht off Eilean Donan Castle
Kyle lifeboat was called out on Sunday night after a yacht suffered engine failure and was dragging its anchor in extremely high winds near Eilean Donan Castle.
The lifeboat launched at 6.12pm after Stornoway Coastguard received a ‘Pan Pan’ urgent radio message from the lone sailor on board the disabled yacht.
The vessel was trying to motor from Loch Duich to Kyleakin when its engine had failed. The sailor had managed to seek a little shelter from the worst of the wind in the bay of Totaig by the mouth of Loch Duich, however, due to the weather, when the anchor was deployed it would not hold and began to drag towards the rocks.
The lifeboat made best possible speed through rough seas and arrived on scene at 6.30pm, where a crew member was put onboard the casualty vessel. It was then determined that the only safe outcome was to tow the vessel to the nearest safe harbour at Kyle of Lochalsh.
The lifeboat crew established a tow and began the journey heading back into the weather, taking more than two hours to get back to Kyle. However, on arrival in Kyle, a combination of the worsening weather conditions and the large number of vessels seeking shelter in the port, it was decided it was too dangerous to try and get the yacht alongside the pier.
The lifeboat towed the vessel the short distance to Kyleakin harbour, where the vessel was put alongside the pontoons and handed over to the waiting local UK Coastguard team. Kyle lifeboat then returned to station and was refuelled and made ready for service at 10.15pm. Speaking of the incident, a Kyle spokesperson said: ‘The yacht had suffered mechanical failure and with the gale force winds and very rough seas, it was decided the only safe location to tow the casualty vessel to was Kyle or Kyleakin. However, this required the lifeboat to tow the 11-ton yacht through the extremely heavy seas which took over two hours. It is a timely reminder to all mariners to ensure they check the weather forecast before setting out on a voyage to ensure they can reach their destination in plenty time before bad weather comes in.’