RNLI Lifeboats rescue a yacht stranded in Burnham mud

by Sarah Hyde on 14 Jul 2015 Both Burnham-on-Sea RNLI Lifeboats were paged to help a grounded yacht after its engine started to fail, with the RNLI crews racing from a lifeboat crew family social afternoon to help.

A 22ft yacht Pipalotto, with a crew of two, was on passage from Combwich to Portishead on Sunday afternoon.

As the craft neared Burnham-on-Sea, the engine started to show signs of failing, so the two-man crew, 'quite properly' decided to head for the Sailing club pontoons, in the River Brue.

Being unfamiliar with the local pilotage, handicapped by a combination of swell, and failing engine, they eventually ran aground in the River Brue.

Milford Haven Coastguard were contacted, and both Burnham lifeboats were launched to assist.

The vessel proved to be stuck hard and fast on the shelving river bank, with a fast dropping tide, so the crew were taken off and delivered to Burnham jetty, where the lifeboats were recovered and returned to the station.

Because of the hazardous location of the yacht, it was decided to relaunch the lifeboats on the next high tide at 4.30am, to continue recovery.

The yacht had started to drag it’s anchor, but the volunteer crews were able to safely free the craft and moor it at the sailing club pontoons, before returning to Burnham jetty for recovery and wash-down at the lifeboat station.

Helmsman Ashley said: “We at first tried to tow off the yacht stern first, but this strategy was abandoned because of the risk of rudder damage, the tiller being forced hard over. The yacht was well and truly stuck.”

Lifeboat Press Officer Mike Lang adds; “We were all attending a lifeboat crew family social afternoon. The crews promptly made their way to the station, but the wives girlfriends and children were left to fend for themselves, which caused a few humorous strategic problems sorting out travel arrangements.”