A solo sailor dubbed ‘Captain Calamity’ by the MCA has been rescued for a second time.

Yesterday the skipper of the 12m yacht Stravaig contacted Swansea Coastguard via mobile phone to report he had lost all electrical power and was drifting nine miles south of Mumbles Head. He had no navigation lights, and only a handheld GPS which was low on battery.  

The Mumbles RNLI lifeboat towed Stravaig in to Mumbles. A second lifeboat also assisted with her mooring. Almost exactly 24 hours later, Swansea Coastguard received another call from the same yacht, reporting that she had again run out of power.This time the Barry Dock lifeboat was sent to tow the vessel back in to Barry.

Dave Jones, Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager said: “When we give out safety advice to people going out for a trip in a yacht we recommend that people take adequate communications and navigational devices, flares, and check their engines. Unfortunately, this man followed none of this advice and set out not once, but twice, knowing that he did not have sufficient power to reach his destination. All of the rescue resources tasked to this man’s two rescues have been volunteers and we hope that the yachtsman will consider fully equipping and preparing his vessel before continue his journey in order that we do not have to send them out to his rescue for a third time.”

 Picture: Marinas.com