Lifeboat crews spend six-hours at sea in gruelling rescue for lone sailor

RNLI crews spent six-hours sailing through rough conditions as part of a rescue for a lone sailor off the Devon coast. The 32ft yacht was located around 90-minutes after crews launched, fighting a three-metre swell, strong winds and rough seas.

Concerns were raised for the lone sailor, who had not been responding to communications, and volunteers from Salcombe and Torbay RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboats at around 11pm on Monday, July 8. The vessel was found to the south west of Start Point at around 12.30am on Tuesday.

Due to fears for the sailor's welfare, the teams made the decision to establish a towline and bring the vessel to the the nearest, safest harbour at Dartmouth. Torbay RNLI lifeboat towed the vessel while Salcombe all-weather lifeboat shadowed both vessels for the duration of the tow, the RNLI said.

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At around 4am, Dart RNLI volunteers were asked to assist and the tow was transferred to the Dart RNLI Atlantic class lifeboat on entering the harbour.

A volunteer crew member from Dart RNLI was transferred onto the casualty vessel, and the yacht was brought alongside Dartmouth Town Quay. The casualty was then handed over into the care of the local Coastguard Rescue Team for further assessment.

Salcombe and Torbay lifeboat volunteers returned to station at around 5.30am, "all very tired" after more than six hours at sea in darkness and challenging conditions, the RNLI said. The lifeboats were then refuelled and made ready for service at around 6am.