During the afternoon of Friday, September 20, 2019, the crew of Exmouth RNLI All Weather Lifeboat R & J Welburn went to the aid of a distressed yacht off the Devon coast.

The recently released video (above) shows Exmouth RNLI's All Weather Lifeboat R & J Welburn engaged in a 28 mile tow in rough seas last September, highlighting the extremely hazardous, difficult and dangerous conditions that the town's volunteer lifeboat crew work in.

Coxswain Roger Jackson said, "This was an extremely difficult rescue and we were operating in very challenging conditions with high winds and rough seas – the worst I have known in 21 years as a volunteer. Our crew, and that of Torbay RNLI were, as always, very professional throughout and carried out the rescue safely despite the hazardous conditions they had to work in."

RNLI Torbay had planned to takeover the tow five miles out of Brixham but as the weather worsened the decision was taken for Exmouth to tow the whole way in rough and extremely windy conditions.

At just after 3pm a distress call was received from the yacht that was approximately 14 miles off Lyme Bay, reporting failed steering gear. The Lifeboat launched at 3.40pm and immediately went to help the vessel.

When Exmouth's RNLI crew arrived at the disabled vessel the volunteer crew, led by Coxswain Roger Jackson, they effected a tow under extremely difficult sea conditions.

Due to the severe sea and tide state it was not considered safe to recover the yacht to Exmouth and the vessel was escorted into Torbay with the assistance of Torbay RNLI All Weather Lifeboat Alec & Christina Dykes and safety.

The individual on board the yacht was uninjured and the vessel did not sustain any damage.