Torbay, England – Solent Coastguard called Torbay RNLI at 7:03pm on May 26 to aid a 10-metre trimaran yacht, located 3 miles northeast of Berryhead, with a jammed mainsail.

Force 8 winds and rough seas left the yacht’s crew unable to free the sail, drifting at 5 knots toward the Channel. The skipper’s sea anchor slowed the vessel slightly, but the outboard motor was ineffective, lifting out of the water. With darkness nearing, a PAN-PAN call alerted HM Coastguard.

Torbay RNLI’s volunteer crew launched their Severn Class lifeboat, ‘The Alec and Christina Dykes,’ at 7:23pm. They reached the yacht, now 3-4 miles off Hope’s Nose, in 27 minutes.

Due to the yacht’s precarious state, the coxswain opted to tow it to Brixham harbour. Transferring a crew member to the yacht was risky in the conditions. Instead, they launched the Y-boat RIB by crane to safely deliver a crew member, who lowered the sails and secured a towline.

Towing began at 8:50pm, and by 10:50pm, the yacht was safely moored at Brixham’s Events pontoon.

Acting coxswain James Hoare praised the crew’s textbook operation, noting the skipper’s wise PAN-PAN call. Hours later, the yacht could have been stranded in darkness mid-Channel.

The two crew members, though exhausted, were unharmed. They joined the RNLI team for tea and chips at the boathouse before heading to a local hotel.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download