Aldeburgh's All-Weather Lifeboat Launched to Rescue Yacht
Aldeburgh RNLI Lifeboat, 'Freddie Cooper', was launched at 8.20pm on Thursday (August 3) at the request of the UK Coastguard, to a 20 metre racing yacht with power problems.
The yacht was 10 miles south east of Aldeburgh on its way from Helsinki to Southampton to take part in the 2017 Fastnet Race.
As a result of the power problem, they had no engine, no navigation lights and intermittent radio.
Although they were under sail, they were a navigation hazard due to not having any navigation lights.
Aldeburgh's all-weather lifeboat with its volunteer crew was tasked to escort the yacht towards Lowestoft, with the Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat also launching to continue the escort into Lowestoft. They rendezvoused ten miles north of Aldeburgh.
Aldeburgh lifeboat returned to station at 23.15pm with the Lowestoft lifeboat arriving home at 00.15pm on Friday (August 4).
RNLI media contacts:
- Caron Hill, Lifeboat Press Office, Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station 07837 263210 [email protected]
- Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) 0207 6207416 07786 668825 [email protected]
- Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / [email protected]
▪ For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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