Sheerness RNLI lifeboat called to yachtsmen in trouble in the Medway estuary

The Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat The George and Ivy Swanson launched at 5.04pm on Tuesday 17 April after a call from the UK Coastguard reported that a yacht was taking on water at Upnor in the river Medway.

The ALB arrived on the scene at 5.40pm and found the yacht stuck fast with its mooring line and buoy underneath and fouled around its propeller and stern gear causing damage which had allowed a slow ingress of water.

A lifeboat crew member and a portable pump were put on board the yacht whilst two other crew members in the XP boat (a small inflatable craft carried on the ALB) tried unsuccessfully to release the ropes and buoy.

Being unable to release the yacht it was decided not to attempt to tow the vessel to avoid causing further damage.

The yacht was left secure with its crew members pumping out water as required and advised that a diving crew be called to free the snagged lines.

As the ALB was about to return to station a further call was received at 6.55pm that a man had fallen overboard from another yacht just upriver of the lifeboats present position.

Having quickly arrived at the location the crew found a man clinging to a small inflatable dinghy and recovered him from the water.

Two lifeboat crew members went on board his yacht, which was under tow from another vessel, and assisted in making it safe on a mooring.

The ALB was stood down at 8.08pm and was back on station at 8.32pm

Weather conditions at the time were good with calm seas but with a strong ebb tide running. Wind SSE force 5.

Ends

Media Contacts

RNLI media contacts

Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 .[email protected] / [email protected]

Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252

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