45 ft yacht with sail problems in high winds

ILB launched when cries for help were heard from the river. The yacht Sea Brigand, with only the skipper on board, was having problems with its jib unfurling in the high winds. When the crew arrived the skipper was on the foredeck trying to stop the jib unfurling further and was in danger of being thrown into the water in the wind and driving rain. Two of the lifeboat crew boarded the yacht to give him assistance but the jib could not be furled further. The 45 ft yacht was swinging widely on her anchor chain and coming closer to other vessels as the tide fell. The Torbay ALB launched to give assistance and came round Berry Head in F 10 (50 Knot winds). They took an hour to reach Dartmouth in the atrocious conditions. The All Weather Lifeboat went alongside the yacht and the two lifeboat crews worked together to move the yacht to the visitors pontoon at Darthaven. This was the second time Dart crewman Darren Hopley had assisted in the rescue of this yacht as he was involved in a previous rescue at sea a year ago. Lifeboat crew. Buster Hart, helmsman. Lee Darch and Darren Hopley crewmen. Launch crew. Tony Rendle, tractor driver. Jerry Gilby