Oban lifeboat launches to aid stricken yacht
OBAN RNLI lifeboat launched on Saturday afternoon in response to a mayday call from a yacht close to Lismore lighthouse.
The Mora Edith MacDonald was requested to launch by Stornoway Coastguard at 3.30pm to help the boat, which was experiencing steering problems close to the lighthouse.
Shortly after the lifeboat arrived, the yacht managed to engage its emergency steering and was making its way towards Dunstaffnage Marina, near Dunbeg.
The CalMac ferry Hebridean Isles also diverted to assist but was not required.
With the yacht under way, the volunteer crew escorted it with regular radio communication checks. En route, it became apparent that one of the yacht’s crew had become unwell and the decision was made to transfer the person to the lifeboat.
The lifeboat then went ahead to Dunstaffnage to transfer the crew member to a waiting ambulance. During this time the yacht was able to berth safely at the marina without assistance. Earlier that morning the Mora Edith
MacDonald had taken part in a training exercise with Stornoway’s Coastguard rescue helicopter 948. The lifeboat had returned to her berth before the afternoon call out.
Following the rescue the lifeboat returned to station where she was refuelled and made ready for service again by 5.45pm.
Meanwhile, on Sunday morning, shortly after 10.30am, Stornoway Coastguard received a request for assistance from the skipper of a yacht which had gone aground on rocks to the north of Insh Island in the Firth of Lorn.
When the crew arrived, it was clear that the yacht was not going to refloat before the next high tide. A local RIB had taken the two crew off to Croabh Haven prior to the arrival of the lifeboat, which then returned to Oban. Around 4.45pm, the yacht’s skipper joined the lifeboat crew and by the time the lifeboat arrived back at Insh, at 5.15pm, the yacht was beginning to rise on the tide.
A tow line was attached to the yacht, which was successfully helped from the rocks and the skipper was happy to proceed back to Croabh unassisted. Oban lifeboat arrived back in Oban at 7pm.