First rescue for new Loch Ness lifeboat.
Press Release 25/09/11
A yacht with engine failure and signs of smoke lead to the first service launch for the new RNLI Loch Ness lifeboat, B737 Thelma Glossop.

The volunteer crew at Loch Ness RNLI lifeboat station were paged to launch this afternoon (Sunday 25th September 2011) at 1.44pm after Aberdeen Coastguard received a distress call from a yacht that had experienced engine failure and was showing signs of smoke from the engine room.

The RNLI lifeboat crew of Martin Douglas, Neil Stebbings and Vivian Bailey headed for the incident at the northern end of Loch Ness and rendezvoused with the yacht, Glorfinda, as it sailed into Loch Dochfour.

The skipper had skilfully steered the 8.5 ton yacht back into safer water but faced the new challenge of a narrow channel and a powerful weir as they approached Dochgarroch.

RNLI crew member Vivian Bailey, and experienced sailor, boarded the yacht to make an assessment of the situation.

No further evidence of a fire was found so line was passed to the Glorfinda and she was taken under tow to a mooring where members of the Inverness Coastguard team were waiting to assist with the berthing operation.

Skipper of the yacht, Richard Cowling from Inverurie says:"It was a lovely sight to see the RNLI lifeboat round the corner."

He added: "We were impressed by their seamanship and professional attitude."

The holiday barge Fingal of Caledonia had deployed it's RIB to assist but was at the southern end of the loch and was stood down en route.

RNLI volunteer crew member, Neil Stebbings says:"The crew on board Glorfinda were well prepared, well kitted out, knew how to handle the yacht and use it's equipment and, vitally, had made plans to cope should something go wrong."

Vivian Bailey says:"Making the early distress call and keeping calm gave our crew and the other emergency services involved more time to assist the yacht before the situation escalated. Our sincere thanks go to the Inverness Coastguard team for helping at the scene and to the crew of Fingal of Caledonia for making themselves available."

The two youngsters on the yacht, five year old Lewis and eight year old Alesha were particularly pleased as it was Lewis's birthday and they had front row seats during the drama.

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