A yacht that was sinking of the coast of Piel Island had to be rescued by Barrow lifeboats on Thursday (June 13). 

The RNLI’s volunteer crew from Barrow Lifeboat Station were paged by HM Coastguard at 2.55pm. 

A lone yachtsman was on passage from Wales to Scotland when he made a stop at Piel Island.In strengthening winds, his yacht had dragged its anchor and was drifting across Walney Channel towards Foulney Island.

This resulted in significant damage and the yacht had begun to take on water.

The yachtsman used his radio to make a Mayday call and, fearing that his vessel was going to sink, boarded his life raft.

The inshore lifeboat (ILB) crew, Raymond and Dorothy Billingham, was launched at 3.05pm.

(Image: Barrow lifeboat) A spokesperson for Barrow Lifeboat said: "The lifeboat was on the scene in just a couple of minutes and the crew transferred the yachtsman to the safety of the ILB and returned him to the lifeboat station.

"The lifeboat then went back to the yacht with a fire pump and two crew transferred to the yacht to try and pump out the vessel.

"With the 26’ (8-metre) yacht in danger of sinking in the Channel where it could pose a risk to the safety of other vessels, HM Coastguard then requested that the all-weather lifeboat, Grace Dixon, be launched to tow the yacht to a safe location."

Grace Dixon was launched around 4pm and the vessel was towed to a sheltered area between Roa and Foulney Islands to secure it to a drying out mooring.

(Image: Barrow lifeboat) This enabled the yacht to be examined for damage at low water and kept Walney Channel clear and safe for other vessel traffic.

The lifeboats then returned to the boathouse where they were met by the waiting shore crew.

The incident ended at 6.30pm.