1141/2024 - Vessel search

It was understood that the yacht had suffered an electrical failure and had no means of communication, other than a mobile phone.

After departing from Guernsey at 05:40 Lions' Pride made its way to the search area, which was some 360 square nautical miles and included the area south of Guernsey and west of Jersey.

Several vessels were identified and discounted, and at around 07:30 the casualty vessel was located around ten miles south west of Jersey's Corbiere Point, with the solo sailor at the helm but making very little progress.

The location was passed to Jersey Coastguard, and the RNLI Jersey All Weather Lifeboat, which had returned to St Helier to refuel, was immediately dispatched to the casualty's location whilst Lions' Pride orbited the vessel and awaited the arrival of the lifeboat.

The sailor, who was tired and cold gratefully accepted a tow to St Helier, and Lions' Pride returned to Guernsey, landing around 08:45 having been airborne for around 3 hours.