Ramsey’s Mersey class RNLI lifeboat was launched at lunchtime yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 21 August) to go to the aid of a yacht with three people on board and in difficulty two miles east of the Point of Ayre.
The vessel was experiencing complete engine failure and was struggling to make headway under sail due to the prevailing wind and tidal conditions. The Ramsey all-weather lifeboat, with her volunteer crew and coxswain Mark Kenyon at the helm, was launched at 12.55pm and made her way rapidly in a moderate sea to the casualty.
The Ramsey based yacht was secured and taken safely under tow by the lifeboat to Ramsey Harbour, arriving at around 2.30pm.
Ramsey lifeboat and her volunteer crew were also called out on Saturday afternoon (18 August) to go to the assistance of a small pleasure craft with electrical failure and two people on board in Ramsey Bay. The lifeboat towed the casualty safely back to Ramsey Harbour.
Ends
Notes to editors
• Ramsey lifeboat station was established in 1829 five years after the institution itself was founded. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/ramsey
• RNLB ANN & JAMES RITCHIE is a Mersey Class Lifeboat designed for the RNLI and built by FBM Ltd of Cowes. The Ann & James Ritchie arrived at Ramsey on 5th July 1991 and took up station on 12th July 1991. She was funded by the late Mrs Ann Ritchie.
• Follow Ramsey RNLI Lifeboat on Facebook.
• The RNLI’s annual running costs are over £122M – approximately £335,000 per day.
• There are over 230 RNLI lifeboat stations across the UK, Isle of Man and Ireland, which are operated by 4,800 RNLI lifeboat crew members, of which 95 per cent are volunteers.
• 5 RNLI lifeboat stations are situated in the Isle of Man.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Theresa Shammon, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Ramsey RNLI Lifeboat Station on 07624 459347; or email ramsey@rnli.org.uk