Video: Dramatic footage captures RNLI sailboat rescue

A yacht in danger of losing its mast prompted a two-hour rescue operation.

The Yarmouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat team was called out on a sailboat rescue mission in Christchurch Bay on 10 December in force 7 conditions.

The 22ft White Osbeat and its two passengers had a serious rigging failure off Hengistbury Head north west of the Needles in the bay off the Dorset coast, and the yacht was in danger of losing its mast.

According to the RNLI, the weather and sea conditions at the time were “atrocious.” A south westerly wind was gusting 35 knots with heavy swell, and visibility was poor.

The coxswain aboard the lifeboat described the sea conditions as “very rough,” which is apparent from the video, where the yacht can be seen surfing down large swells whilst attached to the rescue craft by a tow line.

The two crew members on board the yacht raised the alarm when they were unable to fix the rigging, and the Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat responded quickly. Arriving on the scene shortly after the call for assistance the lifeboat took the yacht in tow. It took the lifeboat team two hours to bring the yacht to safety due to the weather conditions. No one was hurt in the event.

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