A solo sailor was saved after his yacht was spotted drifting dangerously close to an offshore wind farm off the Sussex coast. The skipper had issued a mayday call, triggering a dramatic nighttime rescue.
RNLI Lifeboat Springs Into Action
Volunteers from RNLI Shoreham launched their all-weather lifeboat late Saturday after reports of a missing vessel. The 10-metre yacht had set off from Southampton, heading to Hartlepool, when the alarm was raised.
The yacht was eventually found around 10 miles off Shoreham-by-Sea, drifting in and out of the Rampion Wind Farm’s towering turbines. A coastguard helicopter spotted the yacht’s cabin lights on but no visible sign of the skipper.
Exhausted Skipper Found Asleep Onboard
The lifeboat crew made their way fast to the scene, transferring two volunteers onto the yacht. They found the skipper asleep and suffering from exhaustion.
“The casualty was suffering from exhaustion and had alerted the coastguard but then fell asleep,” said RNLI lifeboat coxswain Simon Williams.
Following a medical check confirming no serious issues, the coastguard helicopter was stood down. Crew restarted the yacht’s engine and safely escorted the sailor back to Shoreham harbour, arriving around 3am Sunday.
RNLI Urges Sailors To Call 999 In Emergencies
Simon Williams added: “The vessel was drifting very close to the turbines in the wind farm. We were able to take control of the yacht and bring it to safety.”
The RNLI reminds anyone in distress at sea to call 999 and ask for the coastguard immediately.
