Douglas RNLI lifeboat was launched on Thursday at 5.50pm to go to the aid of a 10m fishing vessel four miles east of the capital.
The RNLB Sir William Hillary launched into worsening sea conditions to go to the aid of the fishing vessel which was suffering what the RNLI call ‘fuel starvation’.
With a mist coming down and the rising sea conditions, the boat had called for assistance while they continued to try to remedy the fault.
In charge on his first call out since recently qualifying as a deputy second coxswain was Graeme Cushnie.
He said: ‘Utilising our RNLI training we confirmed the casualty’s location using radar and the direction finding capabilities of VHF radio. When on scene a tow was quickly established in what were relatively challenging sea conditions with a significant swell and building sea. When we reached the more sheltered conditions of the harbour, the crew shortened the tow and brought the casualty vessel alongside the Sir William Hilary to be berthed.’
Ramsey’s lifeboat, the RNLB Ann and James Ritchie, was also launched yesterday to go to the assistance of a distressed yacht.
The 30-foot yacht with three people on board was on passage from Peel to Whitehaven.
As the vessel was rounding the Point of Ayre the anchor bolt securing the forestay to the deck sheared and the mast was at risk of collapsing.
The forestay is part of the rigging that holds the mast in place. No-one on board was injured in the incident.
The skipper made a radio distress call and Liverpool Coastguard requested the launch of Ramsey Lifeboat. The lifeboat launched at 1.08pm.
Using its engine the yacht had been able to make some headway towards Ramsey and met with the lifeboat, under the command of second coxswain Rob Brew, about three miles north-east of Ramsey.
The lifeboat took the yacht in tow at 1:40pm and towed it to the visitor mooring buoys in Ramsey bay.
This was the second call-out for the Ann and James Ritchie in 24 hours.