Sea rescue: Signal flare guides rescuers to sinking yacht

The sea rescue took place on 28 August 2026. However, the British rescue organisation, the RNLI, did not publish its mission report until 15 October, including a video of the operation, which ends with the yacht sinking. According to the report, the yacht had run aground on the Scarweather Sands and was taking on water.

Yacht initially nowhere to be found

The skipper alerted the rescue services by dialling 999 on his mobile. The Atlantic 85-class lifeboat named “Rose Of The Shires” set out from Porthcawl at 3.10 pm. According to the RNLI, a south-westerly wind was blowing at five to six on the Beaufort scale. The crew’s initial search proved fruitless: the yacht could not be spotted either with the naked eye or on the radar.

The skipper, who was sailing alone, was unable to use his VHF radio. The report does not explain why. It was only when he fired a red signal flare – apparently at the request of the rescuers, via mobile phone – that his position became apparent to them.

Water ingress cannot be stopped

On arrival at the scene, the crew of the Atlantic 85 lifeboat carried out an initial assessment and found that the yacht had taken on a considerable amount of water. It was decided to send a lifeboat crew member on board the yacht to further assess the situation. It was immediately clear that the crew had to rescue the skipper as quickly as possible, as it would be impossible to stop the water from pouring in. The sailor was safely brought aboard the coastal rescue boat before the vessel sank.

​Meanwhile, the all-weather lifeboat had “"Roy Barker IV" from Mumbles on their way to the scene. Once the crew had arrived, the skipper was handed over to the lifeboat and brought safely ashore in Swansea.

In its report, the emergency services expressly praise the skipper for his preparation. The Bristol Channel has the second-largest tidal range in the world and can quickly put people in difficult situations. The skipper had several means of calling for help on board, as well as suitable safety equipment.

Technical Specifications and Features: “Rose Of The Shires”

• Type: 3rd-generation rigid inflatable boat (RIB) (B-class inshore lifeboat).
• Length: 8.5 metres.
• Drive: Two 115 PS 4-stroke outboard engines (designed to be watertight and capsize-proof).
• Maximum speed: Over 35 knots (approx. 65 km/h).
• Crew: 4 people as standard.
• Range / Operating time: Approx. 2.5 hours.
• Facilities: Equipped with SIMS (Seasall Information Management System (including radar, chart plotter, VHF radio and AIS) as well as a manual righting mechanism for use after capsizing.

​Background: 999 is the official and oldest emergency number in the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and in some other countries of the former British Commonwealth.

• It was introduced in London on 30 June 1937 as the world’s first dedicated emergency number.
• Callers can reach the emergency services (police, fire brigade, ambulance) by dialling the freephone number 999.
• In the UK, you can also dial the Europe-wide emergency number 112.
• In Germany, Bremen Rescue can also be contacted directly by dialling 124 124.

Webinar tip: If you would like to review your emergency preparedness, the following provides more detailed information on Webinar on safety equipment on board the topics of equipment, checks and training.

Book recommendation

SRC and UBI VHF radio licences In addition to exam preparation, it also covers behaviour in the event of a maritime emergency and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). The theory and practical radio sections are presented separately, and examples of maritime radio communications are also included in the book in English. Official maritime radio texts and the official question banks supplement the volume, which also serves as a reference work on board.

What other means of communication do you have available on board in case the VHF radio cannot be used?