Exmouth’s all weather lifeboat, Margaret Jean was tasked to assist a yacht in Lyme Bay at 9.34am. Portland coastguard had taken a distress call from a two-man crew aboard a yacht in rough weather conditions suffering from sea sickness.
With winds at force six and a swell of three metres, the volunteer six-man crew on board the Mersey class lifeboat went to search for the yacht which was approximately 10 miles off Lyme Regis.
The two-man crew on the yacht were from London and Norfolk and were sailing around the coast. Deputy Launching Authority, Neil Hurlock commented;
‘Although both men were experienced sailors, they were unfamiliar with local weather conditions. South south-easterly winds in the Lyme Bay create very uncomfortable sea conditions.’
When the RNLI volunteers reached the yacht, two crew members jumped aboard and motor-sailed the vessel back to Exmouth. They reached the lifeboat station at 3.20pm where Lifeboat Medical Adviser, Dr. Peter Aitken was waiting. He said of their condition;
‘The sea conditions were challenging and sea sickness a problem. Both crew rescued were tired but in good physical shape.’
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