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Published:
April 20, 2007
Burnham
lifeboats launched to help catamaran sailor in difficulties
Burnham-On-Sea's
two lifeboats were called to Berrow on Thursday evening (April
19th) after a catamaran got into difficulties.
Both
the Staines Whitfield and Puffin lifeboats were launched at 6pm
after Swansea Coastguard received a report regarding a dinghy
sailor in difficulties off Berrow beach.
 On
arrival at the scene, the lifeboat crews discovered a 63-year-old
dinghy sailor trying to navigate his 16 foot catamaran clear of
the shore in force four winds.
The
Staines Whitfield lifeboat stood off 300 metres from the catamaran
whilst a crew member waded ashore in knee-height water to pass
a towing line to the casualty.
The
crew of Puffin took the owner back to Burnham slipway at his request.
The Staines Whitfield crew towed the catamaran to the Sailing
Club pontoons where the owner was reunited with his craft.
Nick
Edrich, helmsman of Puffin, said: "The sailor was in a good
condition, although cold, wearing a lighweight sailing suit and
lifejacket, and was also apparently equipped with flares."
Photos
courtesy of Matt Dearing
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