Royal Navy warship assists squall-battered yacht

Laura Hodgetts
Stricken yacht stuggles against 40 knot squalls
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HMS Echo and RNLI lifeboat volunteers assisted a 28ft yacht that was battered by 40 knot squalls whilst attempting to cross Lyme Bay, eight miles off the Devon coast.

The Plymouth-based survey vessel shielded the yacht from the harsh winds while the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) crew from Teignmouth came to its aid on Tuesday evening, 28 June.

Officer of the Watch, Lt Cdr Tom Becker, keeps a watchful eye on proceedings

Officer of the Watch, Lt Cdr Tom Becker, keeps a watchful eye on proceedings

The Royal Navy warship was conducting Survey Operations in the Western English Channel when it overheard a distress call from the struggling skipper to Solent Coast Guard.

The two men on board the yacht had been on their way to Plymouth and had checked the shore weather forecast, but not the sea forecast and encountered rougher conditions than envisaged. They had become tired and called for help in the 40-knot squalls.

Teignmouth RNLI Atlantic 85 class lifeboat The Two Annes tows the casualty yacht in the lee of HMS Echo

Teignmouth RNLI lifeboat tows the yacht in the lee of HMS Echo

An Inshore Lifeboat took the yacht under tow, while the warship provided a lee as they travelled into Teignmouth.