06 April 2023 , 13:43
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Dramatic footage revealed the moment a lone yachtsman got caught in high winds and massive waves.
Waves stretching up just shy of 20 feet were shipped up in 50mph winds around 14 miles north-west of Hartland on the north Devon coast.
Volunteers from The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and HM Coastguard responded to the distress call issued by a 12-metre yacht that found itself in trouble in the Gale Force 9 weather.
RNLI volunteers launched themselves into the trachereous conditions at 4:40am.
Two RNLI volunteer crews from Appledore and Clovelly and the Coastguard helicopter from Newquay were needed to complete the rescue.
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Volunteers onboard Clovelly's inshore lifeboat later transferred the sailor from the boat to safety.
Two RNLI volunteer and a coastguard helicopter were needed (RNLI / Clovelly / SWNS)Martin Cox, Appledore RNLI Coxswain said: "The weather was quite extreme, with wind speeds of 50 miles per hour the size of the waves were reaching around 6 metres high - at times we couldn't see the top of the mast on the yacht.
"Establishing a tow in those conditions was really difficult, and with the tow line breaking more than once, it took a lot of skill from the crew to manage the situation.
The tow rope came loose twice (RNLI / Clovelly / SWNS)"It was great to be able to work with our neighbouring station at Clovelly to ultimately get the yachtsman ashore in the most challenging condition."
The helicopter was needed to find the yacht as the exact position of the yacht was initially unclear, with 999 maritime call operators hearing the distress call but not the location.
Amid the terrible winds, the yacht's sails had been completely torn away, but the RNLI crew from Appledore managed to tie a tow rope to the stranded vessel.
The yacht's sails had been blown out (RNLI / Clovelly / SWNS)Problems occurred when the conditions meant the rope was separated twice, but they eventually reached calmer waters.
The Appledore and Clovelly RNLI spent a total of nine hours at sea battling the weather.
Kieran Nolan-Jones, Senior Coastal Operations Officer for north Devon, said: "It is an important reminder of needing a method to call for help in an emergency situation, the seas can be very unforgiving of those that do not prepare.
'The yacht had lost all power as well as its sails' (RNLI / Clovelly / SWNS)"The yacht had lost all power as well as its sails, and the sailor did the right thing in issuing the Pan Pan alert - but the radio frequency was quite weak.
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"Our helicopter was sent to find the vessel before our lifeboat colleagues did a brilliant job in then safely towing the vessel to harbour. The Lundy Coastguard Rescue Team were really important as well, as they helped to relay the radio messages from a clifftop.
"It was a tough rescue in tough conditions for everyone involved, the helicopter crew who oversaw it all said the wind was a real challenge."