Flare helps rescuers find disabled schooner
15/10/2021
A flare helped search and rescue personnel locate a disabled schooner near Holy Island, North East England.
UK Coastguard received a Mayday call from two crew on board the 40-foot schooner that had lost a rudder and was taking on water south of Lindisfarne one evening in September.
The Seahouses All-Weather Lifeboat launched and was guided with the help of a flare fired by the crew.
On arrival, a crewman and a salvage pump were put on board. The lifeboat Coxswain and skipper agreed the disabled schooner should be towed to Seahouses. On landing, a Seahouses Coastguard Rescue Team helped berth the schooner.
Seahouses RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Ian Clayton says, “A fresh breeze and darkness made the operation less easy, requiring some careful boat handling skill by the coxswain and skilled work by the crew, but the vessel was finally berthed safely, pending repairs.”
The picture by RNLI/Ian Clayton shows the lifeboat and schooner entering Seahouses Harbour.
