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Oh no! - Keiths in trouble
Press Notice No: 174/02
15 July 2002
MAN WHO ATTEMPTED TO SAIL TO ICELAND IN INFLATABLE DINGHY IS RESCUED
Stornoway Coastguard are currently assisting a yachtsman who attempted to sail an inflatable dinghy from Kinlockbervie to Iceland.
Mike Pollard from Liverpool called Stornoway Coastguard a couple of days ago to report that he would be sailing his dingy to Iceland. The Coastguard expressed their concern regarding his plans. He was hoping to sail to Iceland on board his 3.6 metre dinghy which had a 5 horsepower engine on board and a sail. In addition he had 2 gps receivers, an emergency positioning indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) and a sat comm phone on board.
Mr Pollard started off from Kinlochbervie yesterday afternoon but by the time that he was just 20 miles from his departure point, 15 miles north west of Capewrath, he began taking in water. He began to bail out the water, but could not cope with the ingress and called the Coastguard aT 4.30 am this morning.
The Coastguard requested Lochinver Lifeboat to launch. When the lifeboat arrived on scene it put the dinghy on board and began transporting the yachtsman and his vessel back to Lochinver. They are expected back at Lochinver at 10.20 am.
Angus Murray, Stornoway Coastguard Watch Manager said: "When Mr Pollard informed us of his plans to take his dinghy to Iceland, we expressed our concern. However, he was determined to carry out his plans and began his voyage yesterday. The weather for carrying out this expedition was not suitable for a vessel of this kind with westerly force 5 winds and a moderate sea. The sea would be moderate for a suitable vessel but not for a craft of this kind."
"We advise people against going to sea in dinghies of this kind and recommend that children tether dinghies, not much smaller than this, to shore in order that they are not swept out to sea. This vessel was totally inappropriate for conditions, although Mr Pollard’s one saving grace was that he did have the means to contact the Coastguard when he ran into trouble on board. However if anything sudden had happened, it would have left us little time to assist him."
For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office on:
023 8032 9401
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