Peel’s RNLI volunteers were called out in the early hours over the weekend after two distress signals alerted the Coastguard to a yacht in distress.
The signals on Saturday morning alerted HM Coastguard to the vessel 15 nautical miles northwest of Peel.
The station’s Shannon class lifeboat was tasked at 1:45am on Saturday to search for a suspected person in the water after a Personal Locator Beacon and an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon were activated.
A bulk carrier was nearby and was able to determine that no one was in the water and all those aboard were uninjured.
Challenging conditions
The 37ft vessel with three people aboard was sailing from Bangor to Portishead near Bristol, when it suddenly lost its mast along with its electrical system and means of communication.
Coxswain Mike Faragher said: “With considerable difficulty in 3m seas, I was able to put one of our crew on the disabled vessel to begin cutting the yacht free from its mast which had broken in two places.
“Conditions were very challenging and we were grateful for the assistance of Donaghadee’s RNLI Trent class lifeboatMacquarie, which had also been tasked by the Coastguard.
“After more than two hours working in the dark on a pitching deck, the two RNLI volunteers were able to free the yacht of its mast and stays.
“Given the vessel was in a dangerous position without any means of propulsion or communications, and its passengers were understandably distressed, it was considered necessary to tow it to safety.”
The yacht was towed to Peel Harbour with crews stood down later that morning.
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