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.

Staithes RNLI lifeboat launched at 09:40am on Sunday morning to assist the police recover a body from the base of Huntcliffe, between Saltburn and Skinningrove.

The body was spotted by a man walking his dog. Both Redcar lifeboats, coastguard teams from Staithes and Skinningrove and the police helicopter were also involved.

The body was checked a doctor on Staithes lifeboat and then taken to Redcar by lifeboat.

Staithes lifeboat returned to station at 1:00pm.

Staithes RNLI lifeboat launched at 3:45pm on Tuesday afternoon when a local man became concerned that his girlfriend and two children might be cut off by the tide.

The man called the coastguard to say that he understood his girlfriend might be walking along the coast beneath the cliffs between Port Mulgrave and Staithes and that she had set off at 11:00am which was low tide. Despite numerous calls to the woman’s mobile phone there was no answer due to the lack of signal.

Humber Coastguard diverted an RAF rescue helicopter which was exercising nearby and requested the launch of Staithes lifeboat. The helicopter and lifeboat crews searched between Staithes and Port Mulgrave but after twenty minutes the crew at the lifeboat station received a phone call to say that the woman and children had returned home safe and well.

Lee Jackson, press officer and a helmsman of Staithes lifeboat, says:-

“The man did exactly the right thing by calling the coastguard and expressing his concerns. We know the woman knew the tide times but may have changed her planned route. When out and about near or on the sea always make sure someone knows what you plans are.”

Staithes lifeboat returned safely to Staithes at 4:20pm