Search for capsized dinghy with two sailors on board after distress call

A search was launched for a capsized dinghy with two sailors on board after a distress call.

North Berwick RNLI’s volunteers launched the charity’s relief lifeboat on Monday around 6pm in response to a pan-pan distress call from a capsized sailing dinghy.

A pan-pan is a spoken distress call, made on maritime VHF channel 16, indicating that an urgent situation has developed.

It is used in situations that are not immediately life-threatening but where assistance is required to resolve the situation.

An RS 800 sailing dinghy with two people on board had capsized onto a lobster pot’s marker buoy, wrapping a spinnaker sheet around it in the process.

Despite significant efforts by the sailors to free themselves from tangled ropes, they had been unable to self-rescue.

As no other vessels were in the area, Aberdeen Coastguard requested the launch of the North Berwick RNLI Lifeboat.

North Berwick’s Coastguard Rescue Team also attended to assist the sailors ashore.

Fraser Fulton, helm of North Berwick Lifeboat, said: “When we arrived on scene, you could tell that the tide was pushing really fast against the hull of the dinghy.

“With the force of the tide and the location of the tangled ropes, it made freeing the dinghy very difficult.

“Thankfully, once the vessel was freed, the sailors were able to make their way back to shore without further assistance.

“It’s also pleasing to hear that a local farmer had called 999 for the coastguard when he noticed the dinghy had been capsized for a while.

“This incident highlights how useful having a waterproof means of calling for help can be. A VHF and short-range radio licence is the gold standard, but a phone in a waterproof pouch will do if you are a less frequent water user.”