Lifeboat assists stricken yacht off Calf of Man

Port St Mary crew tow vessel to safety 

Port St Mary RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched on Sunday evening (3 May) after a yacht ran into difficulty south of the Calf of Man.

The vessel Henry Heys Duckworth was tasked at 7.48pm, at the request of HM Coastguard, to assist a yacht about one mile south of Chicken Rock Lighthouse.

The lifeboat, with seven volunteer crew on board, arrived on scene at 8.10pm and found the lone occupant safe and well.

The yacht had suffered mechanical issues, including a broken gearbox, leaving it unable to make progress in light winds.

Although there was no immediate risk to life, the vessel was considered a potential hazard to navigation.

Following an assessment, the crew determined the safest course of action was to tow the yacht. The vessel was taken under tow and brought to Port St Mary where it was secured on a mooring.

The lifeboat returned to station and made ready for service again by 10pm.

The launch marked the first call-out for Coxswain Rob Marshall in the role: “I’m really pleased with how everything went and how the crew performed. 

"We had already been out on exercise earlier in the day, so it was a long day for some, but this is exactly what we train for.

“The skipper was able to contact the coastguard which meant we could locate the vessel quickly.”

The RNLI also issued a reminder to boat users to carry out regular maintenance, ensure they have appropriate means of calling for help, and plan ahead before heading out to sea.