Kyle lifeboat team issues weather warning to sailors after challenging yacht rescue mission in gale force winds
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A ROSS-SHIRE lifeboat team endured gale force conditions and "very rough seas" when an 11-ton yacht got into difficulties near a Lochalsh beauty spot last night.
Kyle lifeboat was called out at 6:03pm after reports of a yacht suffering engine failure and dragging its anchor in extremely high winds near Eilean Donan Castle.
The lifeboat launched within 10 minutes of the alert after Stornoway Coastguard received a ‘Pan Pan’ urgent radio message from the lone sailor aboard the disabled yacht.
The occupant of the yacht was trying to motor from Loch Duich to Kyleakin when its engin 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 headed out through rough seas and arrived on scene at 6:30pm.|A crew member was put on board the stricken vessel and it was decided under the conditions 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 over two hours to get back to Kyle.
However, on arrival in Kyle, it was decided that a combination of worsening weather and the large number of vessels seeking shelter in the port made it too dangerous to try and get the yacht alongside the pier.
The lifeboat instead towed the vessel the short distance to Kyleakin harbour, where the yacht was put alongside the pontoons and handed over to the waiting local UK Coastguard team.
Kyle lifeboat returned to its base station and was refuelled and made ready for service by 10:15pm.
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 2 hours. It is a timely reminder to all mariners to ensure they check the weather forecast carefully before setting out on a voyage to ensure they can reach their destination in plenty of time before bad weather comes in."
It was the 19th time the crew has been called out this year to date.
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