British warship saves yacht drifting in storm

Type 45 Destroyer HMS Duncan rescuied a yacht drifting out of control into the middle of the English Channel.

According to the Royal Navy here, the Portsmouth-based destroyer responded to a plea for help from the Coastguard after the yacht, with one person aboard, was reported heading out off Weymouth with no working engine, power or communications – and in worsening seas.

“The Type 45 was anchored in Weymouth Bay around 5.30pm on Saturday amid trials and training following an extensive maintenance period.

Despite sustained wind speeds of 30-35 knots, worsening sea conditions and reducing visibility, the ship launched one of her Pacific 24 sea boats with a crew of seaman specialists, an engineer and a medic aboard.

The motor yacht in distress was drifting rapidly offshore in the wind and tide around Portland Bill and had no flares or working radio equipment onboard. The sea boat crew were about to abandon the search as conditions grew worse, until Leading Engineering Technician Jack Davies spotted the yacht’s mast in the worsening gloom.

He boarded the vessel, reassured and supported the sole sailor aboard and repaired the engine in difficult conditions.”

“The conditions were challenging but the team and I had the right kit, in the right place at the right time to answer the call from the Coastguard,” said seaman specialist Petty Officer Adam Drozdowski, the sea boat’s coxswain.

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