Yacht rescued after becoming stranded off the coast of Hartlepool

A 19ft yacht with one person on board has been rescued by RNLI volunteers after it suffered a mechanical failure off the coast of Hartlepool.

By Poppy Kennedy

Published 27th Mar 2020, 20:28 BST

Updated 29th Mar 2020, 11:23 BST

Hartlepool inshore lifeboat 'Solihull' and volunteer crewmembers towing the yacht to Hartlepool Marina. Picture by Tom Collins/RNLI

Four RNLI crew members aboard the inshore lifeboat, Solihull, launched at 5.16pm on Friday, March 27, to the aid of a stranded yacht.

Within a few minutes the lifeboat was alongside the yacht and was able to tow it to a berth in Hartlepool Marina where the local coastguard team was waiting to offer assistance.

Inshore lifeboat helm, Ken Hay, said: “This was the sort of job we train for on a regular basis.“Due to the windy conditions as we neared the marina I placed a crew member aboard the casualty vessel to assist with the tow and along with good team work from the other crew members we safely towed the vessel into the marina.”

The inshore lifeboat returned to the Ferry Road lifeboat station at 5.55pm and was refuelled.