Cowes Lifeboat Rushed to Aid French Yacht in Midnight Mayday Drama
The Cowes lifeboat was scrambled at 10.38pm last night amid a fierce thunderstorm after a 40ft French racing yacht sent a desperate Mayday call. The vessel was competing in the grueling 1,000-mile Normandy Channel Race and hit trouble on the very first leg.
Yacht ‘Bottomed Out’ in Murky Waters
The yacht’s two-man crew reported they had “bottomed out” — but panic set in as they couldn’t pinpoint exactly where or what they had struck, despite high water levels.
Responding swiftly, the lifeboat Operations Manager approved the launch to assess the situation on scene. Moments before launch, the crew downgraded their distress call to a less urgent Pan Pan after discovering no water was flooding in.
Confusing Callout Ends With Safe Harbour Escort
Shortly after setting off, rescue crews got a cancel launch order. Still, with uncertainty in the air, the Ops Manager consulted HM Coastguard. It was decided the lifeboat should find the yacht anyway and escort it safely to Cowes Harbour.
The lifeboat and shore team ensured the yacht was securely berthed at Trinity Landing, where it stayed overnight.
Crash Site Pinpointed at Cowes Breakwater
Tracking data suggests the coltish French yacht clipped the western end of Cowes breakwater — a nasty bump but thankfully no injuries.
