THE RNLI’s volunteer crew from Barrow Lifeboat Station launched their all-weather lifeboat to assist a stricken yacht.

The call for assistance came through from the coastguard at 1.30pm with a request to go to the aid of a 60-foot yacht which had suffered engine problems in the Wyre Estuary off Fleetwood.

The Fleetwood all-weather lifeboat was not available and the Barrow crew stepped in to help.

The crew was paged and the all-weather lifeboat, ‘Grace Dixon’, was launched at 2pm under the command of Coxswain, Shaun Charnley and six crew.

The lifeboat reached the scene at 2.40pm and Barrow crew member Saul Tomlin transferred to the casualty vessel to assist with connecting a tow line and help the one person on board who was suffering from fatigue and seasickness.

The lifeboat took the yacht under tow and made for Fleetwood where it was placed on a casualty mooring with the assistance of the Fleetwood inshore lifeboat which had been launched to help in the rescue.

The ‘Grace Dixon’ returned to Barrow at 5.25pm where it was made ready for the next call-out.