Legendary yacht recovered by Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat
At 3.37pm this afternoon (Friday) the volunteer crew of the Yarmouth lifeboat station was called out to the renowned sailing vessel, Great Britain II, which requested assistance after suffering engine failure.
The 77 foot yacht, with a crew of 10 on board, was quickly located off Newtown by the RNLI’s Yarmouth lifeboat and towed to the safety of an outer mooring off Yarmouth Harbour.
Great Britain II was the first boat to finish in the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973 and is the only yacht to have ever competed in five consecutive Whitbread Round the World Races.
RNLI media contacts
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Claire Hallett, Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer 07814 900398
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Richard Heming, Yarmouth RNLI Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer 07810 371233
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Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) 0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 or Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) 0207 6207416 / 07866 668825 /
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For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
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 over 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 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or or by email.