Stranded Yacht Recovered As Crew Abandon Ship.
Minehead’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew were called out just after Midnight on Sunday after a yacht ran aground just off Doniford Bay
Following a request from HM Coastguard to launch to the stricken 24 foot Yacht Bunny “B” at 12.05 Hrs both the Stations Atlantic 85 Lifeboat with volunteer helmsman Adam James in command and the stations smaller D Class Lifeboat under the command of volunteer helmsman Paul Arnold were launched and immediately preceded to the location.
Sea conditions were moderate and they arrived on scene approximately 10 minutes after launching.
On arrival it was evident that the casualty was aground and listing slightly. The crew of 4 including a pregnant woman had already left the stricken craft using the yachts tender.
Helmsman Arnold decided that due to the neap tides due over the next few days an immediate attempt the refloat the Bunny “B” was necessary or she risked remaining grounded until the latter part of the following week and was likely to have sustained further damage if sea conditions deteriorated.
Due to the shallow depth of the water a line onto the Bunny “B” from the D Class Lifeboat while the Atlantic 85 stood off and illuminated the area. Crew members entered the water and held the yacht bow to sea. After just over and hour and several attempts the yacht was refloated. The Bunny “B” was then towed to the safety of Watchet Marina.
At the same time the yachts crew were checked over by the emergency services but it is believed no further attention was required.
Helmsman Arnold commented “this was a well executed operation only hampered by the lack of light. I am confident that if we had not refloated the yacht she would have sustained further damage and may have proved difficult to recover if weather conditions had deteriorated”
