Peterhead RNLI tasked to a Mayday call of a sailing vessel at Cruden Bay

Peterhead RNLI’s volunteer crew respond to a Mayday call of a sailing vessel with two people on board that had run aground at Cruden Bay after encountering some heavy weather and rudder issues.

Peterhead RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat (ALB) launched at 3.04pm on Tuesday, arriving at the scene at 3.25pm alongside the UK Coastguard helicopter based in Inverness and local Coastguard Rescue team.

Due to the position of the sailing vessel in shallow water, it was too dangerous to approach with the lifeboat.

With the assistance of Cruden Bay coastguard, the decision was made to recover the casualities ashore.

The volunteer RNLI crew launched the smaller daughter craft to provide safety cover until the casualties were safe.

Peterhead RNLI ALB stood by until high tide.

Fortunately, the sailing vessel’s crew had deployed an anchor prior to abandoning and with the rise in the tide, the vessel remained afloat.

The sailing vessel’s engine was started again by a crew member of a smaller local creel vessel before all the boats made their own way back to Peterhead, escorted by the Peterhead RNLI lifeboat in case of any damage.

The sailing vessel and Peterhead RNLI lifeboat arrived back in Peterhead safely at 7.04pm and the lifeboat stood down.

Duty Coxswain Patrick Davidson said: ‘This was an excellent example of a multiagency collaboration with great work from the local Coastguard teams and the local creel vessel in a call out that could have resulted in a far more serious outcome.

"The sailing vessel’s crew were well equipped and experienced and we are all delighted that they are safe and well.

"I would also thank my fellow volunteer crew members today."

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