Burnham-On-Sea RNLI lifeboats were called out on Sunday evening (May 19th) to help a yacht that had run aground on the banks of the River Parrett.
The yacht, called Tiamo, ran aground with two people onboard near the entrance to the River Brue, close to Burnham-On-Sea Sailing Club, just after high tide at around 8.40pm, as pictured here.
Graham Wills from Burnham-On-Sea Sailing Club told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The yacht’s skipper was unlucky to run aground, having misjudged the river channel by about 20 yards.”
“The yacht ran aground on a patch of thick mud on the falling tide. A number of us went out on my boat, Sundancer, to try and pull the yacht free, but when our tow rope parted it but became clear that it was stuck and would have stay there for the night until the next high tide in the morning.”
“Burnham-On-Sea RNLI lifeboats were called out to securely anchor the yacht and protect it from moving. The yacht skipper and his wife were safely taken onboard my boat and brought ashore at the Sailing Club pontoons. They were both grateful for the help and understandably disappointed it had happened. They were just unlucky.”
The yacht was refloated successfully on Monday’s morning tide.
Lifeboat Press Officer Mike Lang said: “Burnham-On-Sea lifeboat volunteers were paged at 8.48 pm to assist a grounded 26 ft yacht, reported to be in the mouth of the River Brue. Burnham’s D Class lifeboat, a relief from the RNLI pool fleet, was promptly launched, and proceeded to the casualty vessel which was soundly aground, on a dropping tide.”
“The lifeboat crew assisted the yacht’s two person crew by laying out a kedge anchor ready for the morning’s high tide. This done, they returned to Burnham slipway for recovery.”
