Staithes RNLI Lifeboat

Staithes RNLI lifeboat launched at 1:45pm on Sunday afternoon after a resident of the village spotted an object at sea which looked like it could be windsurfer in trouble.

The black object was first spotted about half a mile north of Staithes harbour but even with the aid of powerful binoculars it was difficult to identify exactly what it was.

 Lee Jackson, the lifeboat helmsman, says:-

“The resident reported his sighting to the Lifeboat Operations Manager and I and we walked onto the pier with binoculars. All we could see was a black shape in the water and we could not rule out that it wasn’t a person in a wetsuit clinging to a windsurfing board. The only way to be sure no one was in trouble was to launch the lifeboat to check it out. The object turned out to be a long black sack which was partly inflated but at least we can rest assured that no one was in danger.”

The launch will be recorded as a false alarm but with good intent.

Staithes lifeboat returned to station at 2:10pm.

Staithes RNLI lifeboat was attending a Kayak rescue training course at Runswick Bay on Saturday when two small boats were seen to be in difficulties heading towards Port Mulgrave.

A small dinghy was seen towing another from Runswick to Port Mulgrave and the volunteer lifeboat crew were concerned at the precarious operation. At one point the towing vessel almost ran aground on.

The lifeboat crew reported their concerns to Humber Coastguard and escorted the vessels to safety at Port Mulgrave.

Staithes RNLI lifeboat launched at 8:20pm on Sunday evening to assist police and coastguards recover the body of a male spotted at the base of Huntcliffe, near Saltburn. 

Staithes lifeboat returned to station at 9:30pm.

Staithes RNLI lifeboat launched at 6:50am on Thursday morning after a Whitby fishing boat got its propeller fouled in an old trawl net.

The skipper of ‘Deep Harmony’ called Humber Coastguard to report that the 30 foot boat was hauling lobster pots when a piece of old trawl net came to the surface and fouled the boats propeller and rudder.

 The coastguard requested the launch of Staithes lifeboat and the volunteer crew were alongside ‘Deep Harmony’ by 07:00am.

The volunteer lifeboat crew passed a tow rope to the fishing boat at began towing to Whitby, arriving there at 08:20am.

Colin Harrison, the lifeboat helmsman, says:-

“The wind was quite fresh, about a force 5 from the south, which would push the fishing boat further offshore. There was no way of freeing the jammed propeller and rudder so we towed the boat to Whitby.”

Staithes lifeboat returned to station at 09:10pm.

Staithes RNLI lifeboat launched at 9:25am on Sunday morning after a Whitby fishing boat broke down off Skinningrove.

The skipper of ‘Pride & Joy’ called Humber Coastguard to report that he was having problems with the boat’s engine and required a tow to safety. The coastguard requested the launch of Staithes lifeboat and the volunteer crew were alongside ‘Pride & Joy’ by 09:40am.

The lifeboat crew offered to tow the boat home to Whitby, arriving there at 11:30am.

Staithes lifeboat returned to station at 12:15pm.