Rescue: 19 August 2007, Yacht Joan of Arc 010-07
Sailor Snatched from Grounded Yacht.

The Staithes & Runswick RNLI lifeboat was launched at 6:20pm on Sunday evening after the skipper of a yacht issued a Mayday call reporting that he was close to the shore and in danger of grounding.

The skipper was not sure of his position and said he was close to large cliffs about 8 miles south of Tees Bay. The Staithes lifeboat launched into a heavy swell and northerly winds of up to 30 knots. The boat searched along the coast and spotted the yacht, now aground below the cliffs at Boulby, at 6:30pm. Humber Coastguard had also requested the launch of Redcar lifeboat because of the initial uncertainty of the yacht’s position.

The Staithes lifeboat attempted to go alongside the 30 foot yacht and take off the lone skipper but so big was the swell that they could not get close enough without putting the lifeboat and it’s crew in grave danger.

An RAF rescue helicopter was scrambled from RAF Boulmer and so the lifeboats stood by at a safe distance keeping an eye on the skipper. After an anxious wait the helicopter safely winched the man off the yacht at 7:30pm. The helicopter crew reported that the casualty was now unconscious and flew him straight to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough. Staithes lifeboat returned to station at 7:45pm.

The conditions at sea tonight are what you would expect in the middle of winter. Staithes lifeboat tried several times to get to the yacht and take the man off but it was just too dangerous for the lifeboat crew. Although the yacht was hard aground and taking a pounding the safest thing for the skipper to do was stay onboard until the helicopter arrived. We hope he makes a full recovery in hospital.

— Lee Jackson, a Staithes Lifeboat Helmsman

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