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Lowestoft RNLI Lifeboat called to assist Dutch yacht

Lifeboats News Release

A small Dutch yacht, called for help when the solo crewman on board got into difficulties

A Lowestoft lifeboat crewman boards the Dutch yacht

RNLI/James Tacon

A Lowestoft lifeboat crewman boards the Dutch yacht

Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat was called out at 12.31am on Wednesday 15 March 2017 to assist the yacht, which was about seven miles east of Lowestoft.

The vessel was understood to have been on passage from Ijmuiden in the Netherlands when it got into difficulties.

Coxswain John Fox said "when we reached the seven metres long vessel we found the single-handed sailor on the craft had become quite exhausted. Although the vessel was under sail, it was almost becalmed and with larger shipping passing close by, the skipper was grateful for our assistance."

Deputy second coxswain Nigel Lyman boarded the yacht and connected a towline to the vessel - before the town's Shannon-class lifeboat towed the vessel back into Lowestoft harbour in the early hours of this morning.

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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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