Stranraer and Girvan Lifeboat crews battle gales to rescue yacht

Lifeboat crews have battled gale force conditions to rescue a yacht drifting and in danger of being swamped by waves off south west Scotland.

The 40ft (12m) vessel – with one person on board – suffered an anchor line failure and was being blown towards hazardous waters in Loch Ryan on Sunday evening.

The RNLI inshore lifeboat at Stranraer attached control lines to stabilise the stricken yacht which was then towed to safety by an all-weather lifeboat from Girvan.

An RNLI spokesperson described it as a “challenging rescue carried out in very difficult conditions”.

The drama unfolded at 18:00 on Sunday when HM Coastguard received reports of a yacht in difficulty to the north of Loch Ryan.

The vessel and its single occupant were deemed to be in immediate danger given the conditions and the location of the boat.

The drifting yacht was said to be rolling heavily and, with no effective means of control, was at high risk of being overwhelmed by the weather.

The Stranraer inshore lifeboat was deployed to provide initial assistance until further resources could be mobilised.

The crew of the Stena Superfast VII ferry, which was nearby, kept a watch on the yacht and provided rescue crews with updates on its location.

After being stabilised by the Stranraer inshore lifeboat, a larger all-weather lifeboat from Girvan arrived on the scene to tow the yacht to safety.

A Stranraer RNLI spokesperson said: “This was a challenging service carried out in very difficult weather.

“The yacht was being driven by strong winds and heavy seas after its anchor failed, and the situation was deteriorating.

“Our volunteer crew worked calmly and professionally in demanding conditions and are grateful to HM Coastguard, the crew of the Stena Superfast VII, and Girvan RNLI for their coordination and support.”