Cat-astrophy averted by Margate lifeboat
The volunteer lifeboatmen launched their all-weather boat early on Sunday morning to help the yacht Pavane, which had run out of fuel after its propeller was damaged by a lobster pot while travelling to Medway from Holland.
On board Pavane were David Woodward, 61, and his 15-week-old ginger cat Jimmy II.
Country singer David, who lives on the boat which is based at Grimsby, said they ran into trouble shortly after leaving Amsterdam, where he had been celebrating his birthday. The propeller was damaged, which meant the boat started using twice as much fuel as usual, and her tank ran dry on Sunday morning.
David and Jimmy II were stranded and with the weather getting worse he called the coastguard.
David said: “It was the first time in 30 years of sailing I’ve had to radio the coastguard and the lifeboatmen were great. Jimmy II was fine, he’s great at comforting me during storms. I think he was glad when it was all over, though.
“He has a pretty good life – I catch fish for him to eat sometimes and he’s got his own territory he looks after.
“Sometimes I think he thinks he’s drawn the short straw though, as his friends have nice warm homes and he has been press-ganged to sea.”
The boat was towed 10 miles into Margate by the lifeboat. David and Jimmy II recovered in the harbour on Sunday (October 2).
Peter Barker, operations manager at Margate RNLI, said: “I can’t ever remember a rescue with a cat before. We have had dogs, though.
“The boat is this man’s home and lots of homes have cats.
“The yachtsman was somewhat exhausted after his ordeal in rapidly deteriorating conditions with a squally wind gusting to near gale force, while the cat probably used up one its nine lives. It chose to remain tucked up below deck throughout the ordeal.”
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