On Saturday afternoon the MV "Elsa" reported to Liverpool Coastguard that assistance was required due to mechanic problems .
The "Elsa" is a 52 foot long de-commissioned wooden built, motor fishing vessel. She was on a passage from Larne, Northern Ireland to Plymouth, Devon with 3 persons on board. They had been suffering problems with the engines gearbox which resulted in the vessel only manage to make 1 knot of speed. When they had got close to the south of the Calf of Man they had started to drift with the spring tides close to the Chickens Rock Lighthouse (which marks a pinnacle of rock approximately one mile off shore).The tidal current in this general area is about 4 knots but in places there are tide rips which are even faster.At the time the tide set was to the east. The weather fortunately was good with a light northerly force 2 wind , a slight sea and good visibilty.
At 14:35 BST Liverpool Coastguard paged the Lifeboat crew and with a quick turn out the Lifeboat reached the "Elsa" at 15:10 BST (after a short passage of 4 miles). A tow line was passed and the vessel was pulled back to Port St Mary without further incident, arriving at little before 16:00 hours (4pm).
Elsa in tow -view from RNLB Gough Ritchie II
- copyright photograph of PSM Lifeboat Crew
Elsa in tow by Gough Ritchie II arriving into Port St Mary
- copyright photograph of Sarah Keggen
Postscript - two days later the Elsa continued her passage towards Plymouth , however calling in at Fishguard some days after she sank at her harbour moorings
Edited 04 August 2000