‘Wild goose chase’
Operation costing five figures was for naught
A search for two men after this boat was found abandoned led to a major alert involving the coastguard, rescue helicopter, lifeboat and police.
Scarborough lifeboat’s operations manager has claimed that a yachtsman’s failure to alert authorities he had abandoned his boat had put lives at risk and cost “tens of thousands of pounds”.
An extensive search was carried out involving a helicopter, two lifeboats, coastguards and police after the yacht Don’t Panic was spotted off Marine Drive in the early hours of Tuesday, with no sign of the crew.
The search was called off three hours later after the men were located on land.
John Senior, RNLI Scarborough operations manager said the two men failed to tell rescue services the boat had been damaged and left. He said: “The operation cost tens of thousands of pounds and is very irresponsible.
“Every time we launch there is a danger to our crew and to for have it happen when a modicum of intelligence could have prevented it is disappointing.
“We had a lot of resources tied up in this operation. If there had been a real emergency call it would hamper that operation as we would have had everyone tied up in this wild goose chase.”
RNLI Scarborough press officer Dave Barry added: “The main thing we have a problem with is they got off the boat without telling anyone.
“If the boat is knackered fine, but tell someone.
“It was irresponsible. It has wasted a lot of time and resources.”
HM Coastguard Rescue Teams from Scarborough and Burniston conducted a shoreline search during the operation, while lifeboats from Scarborough and the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter scoured the sea.
Both Scarborough RNLI lifeboats were launched just before 6am.
The search was called off three and a half hours later.
It is not the first time the Don’t Panic has needed the RNLI’s help.
In June it was rescued late at night with no lights, no VHF radio, no GPS, no flares and no engine. At the time Mr Senior warned boat owners to always let people know if they are going out at night.
He also said would strongly advise that such vessels always have a means of sending out a distress call other than a mobile phone.