The Barrow RNLI lifeboat crew launched into action yesterday afternoon to assist a struggling yacht. The 40-foot vessel, en route to Fleetwood, encountered difficulties around 6 miles west of Haverigg and issued a distress call at 3:52 pm.

Without hesitation, the volunteer crew sprang into action, launching their all-weather lifeboat ‘Grace Dixon’ at 4:15 pm under the capable command of Coxswain Shaun Charnley and five crew members. They raced to the scene, reaching the troubled yacht at 5:00 pm, where they took over from the windfarm crew transfer vessel ‘Rix Panther,’ which had also responded to the call for aid.

The two sailors aboard the yacht had to cut their anchor free to continue their journey. As a precautionary measure, the lifeboat escorted the vessel for the remainder of its voyage to Fleetwood, ensuring their safe arrival at 8:26 pm. With the yacht secure, the ‘Grace Dixon’ returned to Barrow, arriving at 9:10 pm, where the shore crew awaited to rehouse the lifeboat, preparing it for the next call-out.