Language barrier defeated in yacht rescue

Thursday 29 August 2024

Guernsey Coastguard had to use French counterparts as a translation service during a multi agency rescue mission, when a stricken yacht needed help near Sark overnight.

Despite the challenges posed by the language barrier between the two people on board the yacht and their rescuers, the situation was safely managed with no injuries reported.

Staff and volunteers from the coastguard and lifeboat service respectively, other mariners, and staff from local business Boatworks+ all immediately made themselves available after the call for help came in at 21:00 last night.

The yacht was taking on water and the onboard pumps had failed. It was around 10 nautical miles east-north-east of Sark.

The French Coastguard at Cross-Jobourg helped the pair on board communicate with the Guernsey Coastguard who coordinated the rescue, dispatching the St Peter Port All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) the Spirit of Guernsey to help.

Two passing vessels stood by the yacht until the lifeboat arrived at 22:12

Two crew members climbed aboard with a salvage pump to empty the accumulated water within the boat. They said by that time the water was an estimated 8 to 10 inches deep.

Once the situation was under control, the lifeboat towed the yacht into St Peter Port Harbour, arriving at 00:55.

The multi-agency response to the rescue didn't end there, with staff from Boatworks+ called from their beds to assist.

They had prepared their slipway ready to lift the vessel clear of the water on arrival.

A spokesperson for Guernsey Coastguard said "This was a multi-agency rescue involving the French, Jersey and Guernsey Coastguard services, two passing vessels, the St Peter Port RNLI and the staff at Boatworks + who deserve a special mention for answering the call to assist in lifting the vessel clear of the water in the early hours of Wednesday morning."

Pictured top: Boatworks+ at the Castle Emplacement.