Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard 2025 child

Sailor texts girlfriend for help after yacht sinks in Bristol Channel

by KenMcCormick on 22 Sep 2014
The lifeboat returns to Weston with the rescued sailor aboard. Weston RNLI
This might be the Texting and Facebook generation but boaters need to user VHF radio says volunteer rescuers from Weston-super-Mare's lifeboat station rescued a yachtsman whose boat sank in the middle of the Bristol Channel, UK.

The man managed to get ashore on uninhabited Steep Holm Island, then sent his girlfriend a text message asking her to get help, the RNLI said today.

The two-and-a-half-hour drama unfolded yesterday shortly before 3pm, when the Coastguard received a call alerting them to the emergency.

The man's friend said his yacht had sunk near Steep Holm, about five miles offshore from Weston, and he had managed to scramble ashore but needed help.

An RNLI spokesman said the charity launched its lifeboat Anna Stock, which headed towards the Island.

As the crew drew near they spotted the mast of a yacht sticking out of the water but could see no sign of the occupant. They then found a discarded life jacket during a search of the shoreline but could not find the missing sailor.

Just as they were about to call in an RAF helicopter to help look for him Swansea Coastguard managed to contact the yachtsman, who had climbed up to higher ground and was at an old barracks building.

The coastguard helped him to make direct contact with the lifeboat using a radio he had rescued from his sinking yacht and he was told to walk back down to the shore.

The lifeboat picked him up and took him back to Knightstone Harbour. He was checked over by the lifeboat crew and found to be wet but uninjured.

The RNLI spokesman said the yacht had sunk because it had been swamped by the channel's fast-rising tide near the beach.

Helmsman Simon Cresser said: 'This man was lucky he was near the island when his craft sank.

'He was found because of a text message but this is not a secure way of calling for help. He should have had a VHF radio he knew how to use and flares for calling for help.

'We always suggest all sailors are properly equipped. If any have any doubts about their seaworthiness the RNLI does offer free Boat Checks. Just ask at the lifeboat station.'

For more information about Weston RNLI, visit the charity's website.
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterArmstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOMMcDYachts_Pyewacket-for-Sale_1456x180 BOTTOM

Related Articles

2025 Six Metre World Championship Day 2
Eau Vive and Jill claim first victories in Oyster Bay After the disappointment of a wind and raceless day one, the 2025 International Six Metre World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club finally got under way in warm sunshine and a south-westerly of around 6-8 knots.
Posted today at 3:23 am
46th Cannes Royal Regatta day 2
A dream day! If we had to give a score for the entry of the "classic " and 5.5 m on Tuesday 23 September, we would hesitate between an 18 and 19/20... knowing that you never put a 20/20!
Posted on 23 Sep
2025 5.5 Metre French Open day 1
Otto and New Moon share spoils in Cannes New Moon III (BAH 25, Holger KOEHNE, Christoph BURGER, Peter VLASOV) and Otto (NOR 68, Bent Christian WILHELMSEN, Herve CUNNINGHAM, Lasse BERTHELSEN) are tied at the top after the first day of racing at the 5.5 Metre French Open in Cannes.
Posted on 23 Sep
Middle Sea Race set to attract exceptional fleet
Royal Malta YC has 118 entries already At midnight on Friday, 19 September the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race had amassed a fleet of 118 yachts. The entrants represent 30 countries and territories: from Australia and New Zealand to Finland and Norway, and from the United States to Romania.
Posted on 23 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 1
Solid Sled earn early lead in Sardinia Takashi Okura's Sled lead the 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta after the first two windward leeward races.
Posted on 23 Sep
Melges 24 Worlds 2025 at Trieste, Italy Day 1
No racing possible on the first day Good things are worth waiting for, and that was the adage at the opening day of the Melges 24 Worlds, which ended without any races in the scoreline. The weather in Trieste proved too unstable, with storms in the morning followed by a lack of wind.
Posted on 23 Sep
Formula Kite Worlds Quartu Sant'Elena preview
9th Sardinia Grand Slam is the first major step towards Los Angeles 2028 Next September 28th to October 5th, the Poetto beach will host the event that crowns the new World Champions. Among the top contenders: Maeder, VodiĊĦek, and Pianosi in the men's fleet; Nolot, Aldridge, and Kampman among women
Posted on 23 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo Day 1
Vasco Vascotto's tactical choices led Platoon Aviation to victory in the first race At 12 noon (CEST), the Race Committee, chaired by PRO Maria Torrijo, started the first race of the 52 Super Series - Porto Cervo - Range Rover Sailing Week with a Mistral wind of 9-10 knots, increasing to 18 knots during the day.
Posted on 23 Sep
SailGP, TOR Europe, Women's Match Racing Worlds
Good things often happen when preparation meets opportunity Good things often happen when preparation meets opportunity. Such was the case for the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank squad when they notched their first-ever SailGP event win at last weekend's Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.
Posted on 23 Sep
Dutch Sailing Federation extend Musto partnership
Innovation is the key to Olympic success The Dutch Sailing Federation and Musto, the world's number one performance sailing brand, are extending their successful collaboration through to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Posted on 23 Sep