10-hour service for Kirkwall Lifeboat to grounded yacht

Kirkwall Lifeboat was launched last night to go to the aid of the crew of a yacht which had gone aground, a callout that resulted in a 10-hour service for the crew.

The lifeboat left Kirkwall in calm conditions shortly before 9pm and headed for the yacht which was in a position between Rousay and Egilsay on the Holm of Scockness.

According to Kirkwall RNLI the yacht was found to be hard aground and had developed a 45 degree list to starboard.

The lifeboat launched its Y boat with two crew onboard to go alongside the yacht and check for any damage. The four crew onboard the yacht were happy to remain onboard and await for high tide.

The lifeboat then tied up Rousay Pier until the tide rose. The lifeboat then returned around 3am and assisted by the Y boat attached a tow rope and pulled the casualty clear after several attempts in strong tides, around 6am.

The yacht was checked over, and once the skipper was happy that no damage had occurred the yacht was escorted out into the Westray Firth to continue its journey.

The lifeboat returned to station close to 7am, after being out for 10 hours on service.

Earlier in the week – on Sunday – the same yacht ran aground close to the entrance to Kirkwall Harbour Basin, was assisted by a local fishing boat, and later refloated.