Scots to the rescue- first the sailors - then their boat!

by Ralph Barnett/Sail-World on 18 May 2009 The Swedish couple who had to abandon their boat in horrific conditions in the North Sea (because they had only one life vest on board) were devastated at the loss of their yacht and only home - but they didn't count on the bravery and ingenuity of the Scots!

As reported in Sail-World several days ago (see http://www.sail-world.com/Cruising/RNLI-rescues-Swedish-couple-in-10-metre-swells/56837!story), Jonas and Ingrid Akerblom were sailing from Denmark to the Firth of Forth on Friday on what was supposed to be the first leg of their 14 month trip when their 24-foot yacht Oumh lost its steering and got into difficulties about 20nm off the East Lothian coast of Scotland.

In some of the worst weather conditions seen in the area for years, the couple made a distress call to the Forth Coastguard and a commercial tug, the RT Magic, was asked to head in their direction.

As the small yacht continued to be battered by 10-metre waves and winds of up to 40knots, the coastguard also tasked the Dunbar lifeboat to make its way to the scene.

Operating in what Dunbar coxswain Gary Fairbairn described as 'the worst sea we have ever been out in', when they discovered that the couple had only one lifevest on board the decision was made that they could not leave the couple on the yacht. The lifeboat was able to get alongside the yacht and, after aborting one transfer attempt when the lifeboat itself was almost capsized by a huge wave, the couple were snatched to safety.

Conditions had deteriorated so much that the decision was taken that it would be too dangerous to attempt to tow the stricken yacht back to Dunbar and the lifeboat crew advised the couple that it—and everything but the clothes they were wearing—would have to be abandoned at sea.

On Saturday afternoon, however, a member of the public reported that an apparently unmanned yacht was drifting dangerously close to the rocky shore north of Arbroath and the town’s all-weather boat Inchcape and inshore boat Duncan Ferguson were launched to investigate.

Having been aware of the circumstances surrounding Friday’s dramatic rescue, the Arbroath crews were surprised and delighted to find that the yacht was the Oumh, which had drifted more than 20nm with the tide and wind to arrive virtually on their doorstep.

Finding the yacht had survived its 18-hour ordeal relatively unscathed, Inchcape emergency coxswain got the go-ahead to attempt a recovery in stormy conditions and just metres from the base of the cliffs.

The technically challenging operation saw volunteer crew member Andrew Spence boarding the heavily pitching yacht from the inshore lifeboat and fixing a towline to the base of its mast, enabling the Inchcape to pull it clear of the rocks.

Fellow volunteer Neil Madge then joined him on the yacht to assist in creating a more effective towing procedure and the vessel, which had no steering of its own, was slowly towed back to Arbroath harbour.

The Swedish couple were at the Dunbar lifeboat station reflecting on their lucky escape, grieving for their lost boat and debating their next move when they were given the news that their yacht had been recovered virtually intact.

They were given a lift to Arbroath where they were reunited with their vessel.

Mr Akerblom said, 'We sold everything we had to go on this trip and spent five years building the boat, so to lose our boat and nearly lose our lives was almost too much to bear.

'When we heard the yacht had been found and recovered we were almost overcome and, although we are not religious people, we felt that someone must have been watching over us.

'There is no way for us to properly thank the lifeboat crews for what they have all done for us, and to think that these men would drop everything to help people they have never met is just incredible.

'We will now have to find out how much damage the yacht has suffered before continuing our journey.'

Sail-World Cruising thinks they should also give consideration to buying another life-jacket.
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Reader's Comment:

Sender: Captain Steve Beckwith

Message: A heartwarming story of bravery and the fellowship of man, and more strongly, the fellowship of seagoing men and women. I would however suggest and offer a moral to the story? Never ever abandoned a vessel unless it sinks under you. Many have been lost never to be found having abandoned their vessel. Their vessel being found later, intact and well. The best lifeboat you?ve got is your yacht!