Lifeboat crews from Burnham-On-Sea and Weston were called to help a yacht with engine difficulties near Brean Down on Monday (July 29th).
Crews were paged shortly after mid-day to reports that a 26′ yacht was in difficulty four miles from Howe Rocks near Brean Down.
The 26 foot yacht had mechanical problems as well as a member of the crew suffering with severe seasickness.
The yacht was en route to the River Axe and was taken on tow by the Weston lifeboat to the safety of Uphill Yacht Club’s pontoons in the River Axe estuary.
The poorly crew member was transferred to the Burnham lifeboat, transported to Knightstone Harbour and subsequently delivered to Weston RNLI volunteers and Coastguards.
RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Ricky Holmes, said: “The crew had to contend with thunder and lightning as well as hailstones during this incident. Due to poor visibility they had to rely on their charts and GPS in order to reach the vessel. Having met with the Weston crew earlier this year in a non-emergency joint training exercise it was good to be able to put that training to use on a joint shout.”
The lifeboat launching from Burnham beach
The stricken boat being towed by one of the lifeboats, pictured from Brean
The lifeboat being driven along Pier Street to Burnham-On-Sea jetty to launch
