RNLI volunteers and HM Coastguard battle storm force conditions to save lone sailor

Appledore and Clovelly RNLI in yacht rescue © Dave Riley

A lone yachtsman was rescued off the coast of Devon as rescue teams battled Storm Mathis and wind speeds gusting over 50mph.

The sailor on the 12-metre yacht issued a distress call after getting into trouble in the severe weather last Friday (31 March), approximately 14 miles north-west of Hartland on the north Devon coast.

The rescue highlights the lifesaving potential of a radio onboard in emergency situations, as the sailor raised the alarm with a Pan Pan distress call.

Watch the video footage here

Two RNLI volunteer crews from Appledore and Clovelly and the Coastguard helicopter from Newquay were needed to complete the rescue. Appledore's all-weather lifeboat crew launched at 4.40am into darkness and Gale Force 9 conditions - including 6-metre-high waves. Volunteers onboard Clovelly's inshore lifeboat later transferred the sailor from the boat to safety.

The exact position of the yacht was initially unclear, with 999 maritime call operators hearing the distress call but not the location. So the helicopter crew was dispatched to search, while shore-based coastguard teams on the Island of Lundy kept a lookout and spotted a light. The helicopter soon located the floundering vessel and the lifeboat crew.

The yacht's sails were completely torn but, despite the terrible conditions, Appledore's crew managed to attach a tow rope to the yacht with the aim of reaching the shelter of Bideford Bay.

The strain of the rough conditions parted the tow rope twice before they reached calmer water off the coast of Clovelly.

After the tow broke for the second time, Clovelly inshore lifeboat crew launched as the safest option was to anchor the yacht and take the sailor off.

Although in calmer water, the strong winds continued to make the sea conditions challenging for Clovelly's volunteers as they came alongside the yacht to rescue the casualty.

Martin Cox, Appledore RNLI Coxswain said: 'The weather was quite extreme, with wind speeds of 50 miles per hour the size of the waves were reaching around 6 metres high - at times we couldn't see the top of the mast on the yacht.

'Establishing a tow in those conditions was really difficult, and with the tow line breaking more than once, it took a lot of skill from the crew to manage the situation.

'It was great to be able to work with our neighbouring station at Clovelly to ultimately get the yachtsman ashore in the most challenging condition.'

Kieran Nolan-Jones, Senior Coastal Operations Officer for north Devon, said: 'It is an important reminder of needing a method to call for help in an emergency situation, the seas can be very unforgiving of those that do not prepare.

'The yacht had lost all power as well as its sails, and the sailor did the right thing in issuing the Pan Pan alert - but the radio frequency was quite weak. Our helicopter was sent to find the vessel before our lifeboat colleagues did a brilliant job in then safely towing the vessel to harbour. The Lundy Coastguard Rescue Team were really important as well, as they helped to relay the radio messages from a clifftop.

'It was a tough rescue in tough conditions for everyone involved, the helicopter crew who oversaw it all said the wind was a real challenge.'

The volunteers from Appledore and Clovelly RNLI spent a combined total of almost 9 hours at sea in the most difficult of conditions. With thousands of RNLI volunteers on call 24/7 around the coast of the UK and Ireland ready to respond at a moment's notice, the charity that saves lives at sea is putting its own call for help out and is launching its Mayday campaign.

This year the RNLI is asking supporters to take on the 'Mayday Mile', to help raise essential funds for the charity and ensure that their lifesaving services can continue to keep everyone safe over the summer. Last year, lifeboats launched over 9,000 times, and the RNLI is expecting another busy year.

Visit RNLI.org/SupportMayday to sign-up to the Mayday Mile.