Sailor rescued from 'unforgiving' seas near Hartland
- Published
The yacht lost power and its sails in rough weather
The RNLI is reminding sailors of the importance of having an emergency plan after a dramatic rescue in rough seas.
The charity said a lone sailor issued a distress call after his yacht lost power and its sails off Hartland on the north Devon coast on 31 March.
Lifeboats from Appledore and Clovelly and a HM Coastguard helicopter responded.
The RNLI said crews battled 6m (20ft) waves and wind gusts of more than 50mph to rescue the yachtsman.
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It said it attempted to tow the boat back but volunteers opted instead to anchor the vessel and take the sailor off due to the challenging conditions.
Kieran Nolan-Jones, senior coastal operations officer for north Devon, said: "It is an important reminder of needing a method to call for help in an emergency situation.
"The seas can be very unforgiving of those that do not prepare."
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- Published4 April 2023
- Published5 April 2023
