Lyme Regis: Spirit of Loch Fyne in first call-out (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)
Contact the Bridport News with your stories, pictures and video footage. Send us an email
Lyme Regis: Spirit of Loch Fyne in first call-out
10:41am Wednesday 11th April 2012 in Lyme Regis
The new Lyme Regis lifeboat heads out on its first shout since arriving
RESCUERS faced a busy weekend off the coast as the new Lyme Regis lifeboat was called out for the first time.
The Spirit of Loch Fyne answered her first emergency call on Easter Saturday when the alarm was raised about a couple in trouble near the town.
A Lyme RNLI spokesman said: “Spirit of Loch Fyne was launched at 6.44pm after coastguards were alerted to two people reportedly cut off by the tide in the Black Ven area east of the town.
“A man and a woman, both aged 49, had walked from West Bay and were found to be safe and well when they were met ashore by coastguards.
“The lifeboat waited off shore while it was decided that the pair could walk back to Charmouth.”
The alert came before an incident at 8.40pm when the Dorset Police helicopter was scrambled after a member of the public reported hearing a woman moaning near cliffscliffs.
Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue team was also involved in the search of The Spittles to the east of Lyme Regis. Nobody was found.
Officers at Portland Coastguard were also in action in the early hours of Saturday amid concerns for crew on a yacht off the coast.
They made broadcasts on VHF radio and enquiries with neighbouring stations after a series of weak distress alerts were received at 2.40am. When enough information had been received to identify the vessel in distress as the yacht Starship, communications were established, relayed via the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Orangeleaf, which stood by the yacht.
One of the crew was badly seasick and the other was unable to sail the boat alone. Torbay RNLI All weather lifeboat was sent to help, and took the vessel in tow into Torbay.
