Kessock lifeboat abandon training to help stricken yacht

A north lifeboat had to interrupt its training to help a yacht which had run aground near the entrance to Inverness Harbour.

The Kessock crew were conducting a navigation exercise in the Beauly Firth when they spotted the vessel at Carnarc Point earlier this week.

After contacting Aberdeen Coastguard, the lifeboat offered a tow to the stricken boat, which had two people on board.

This shout, on Sunday, was latest call out in busy spell for Kessock lifeboat volunteers, being the 7th shout in the last 14 days.

Helmsman Doug Grant used the towline to steady the yacht while the sailors raised the jib sail to help lift the keel off the seabed. This action along with the rising tide made floating the yacht again very easy.

Mr Grant said: ‘This was a routine job really for the volunteer crew at Kessock. Carnarc point is notorious for vessels going aground. Thankfully on this occasion no damage was done, nobody was injured and the sailors were back on their way again in half an hour’

Once afloat again, the sailors made their way into Inverness Harbour while the lifeboat crew re-started their training exercise.