Artie the ship's cat sleeps through as yacht is rescued by Scarborough lifeboat

Sea-faring feline Artie, whose owners' yacht became snared in lobster nets, kept on snoozing despite the dramatic events unfolding on board.

As reported by The Scarborough News, Scarborough Lifeboat volunteers were called out to free the yacht in the early hours of last Monday.

Paul Higgins, one of the RNLI crew, said: “The cat was asleep in its cage but the door was open. It was just quite happy in its bed."

Artie's owners, Tim and Row Heale, said: "We contacted the coastguard with our position when we found ourselves immobilised as our radar showed large commercial vessels approaching us, albeit at a distance.

"We had sailed non-stop from Inverness when we found ourselves in trouble and the crews from RNLI Scarborough came to our assistance."

They told the lifeboat rescuers: “We can’t thank you enough for all your help at silly o’clock in the morning,"

“Sorry to have got you out of bed but hey, cheers guys, we really appreciate your help and genuine attitude to helping those in need.

"We have made an online donation to the RNLI. Our meagre contribution probably wouldn’t cover your pager bill, let alone the boats’ fuel bill, but from our hearts and Artie the ship’s cat, we thank you."

Tim and Row are members of the Army Sailing Association and the Royal Yachting Association.

They keep their boat - Hallberg Rassy 36 Talavera - at the Hornet Services Sailing Club in Gosport, where they live.

Artie is a British short-haired smokey grey who is well travelled, has his own passport and has been sailing since he was a 12-week-old kitten.

Row said: “He’s now into his second life jacket - he outgrew the first one - and he loves going ashore in the dinghy or our kayak.

“Don’t be fooled by his grumpy look, he loves being on board."

The couple’s favourite places to sail are around Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the Baltic.

“But this year, due to Covid-19 and quarantine regulations, we are sailing clockwise around the UK, anchoring as much as possible and only going ashore for water, food supplies or to wait for gales to abate," they said.