The Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team was called out around 0230 hours this morning to reports of a yacht aground in Largs.
The team responded immediately having only returned home a few hours earlier after completing incident prevention patrols during high tide.
The team proceeded to Largs through the wind and rain of storm Ophelia and once on scene, located the yacht aground after navigating the debris stricken promenade. The team battled extremely challenging weather conditions to ensure there were no persons in difficulty on board the vessel. Satisfied that no persons were in danger or in need of assistance, the team's attention then turned to the yacht itself. The vessel appeared to have broken free from its floating mooring and the concern now was the yacht would refloat and be pulled out to sea with the next incoming tide. Using free lines on the yacht, the team secured the vessel as best as possible to the shore. The team also dropped the vessel's anchor and dug it in to the beach in an attempt to further secure the vessel and avoid it being taken out to sea. With the vessel now secure and no persons in need of assistance, the team has then stood down and returned to station to complete the necessary paperwork and dry off equipment. The team has then booked off duty and returned home to bed around 0500 hours, ready to respond to the next callout when it comes. The Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond to those in need, regardless of the time or the weather conditions. We train hard all year round to ensure we can effectively operate in all conditions, including last night's ex-hurricane Ophelia which brought gale force winds and driving rain. #999Coastguard Search and Rescue - it's what we do. In a coastal, beach or cliff emergency dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.