Gorleston RNLI crew launched in challenging conditions to yacht in distress
The Trent class relief lifeboat ‘Dora Foster McDougall' at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston was launched at 5.55pm on the 9 August 2018 to reports of a yacht with engine failure, 27 nautical miles offshore north east of Great Yarmouth
The volunteer crew were paged by the coastguard to attend a yacht which had engine failure and was distressed due to the weather conditions.
The volunteer crew proceeded to the location given by coastguard in forces of 6-7. The German crewed yacht had two people on board and had been trying to make its way from Den Helder to Scarborough. Once alongside the yacht, the all-weather lifeboat established a tow with the vessel.
Both persons on board were safe and well, apart from being very fatigued. They were deemed to be safe enough to stay on board the yacht on its tow transit back to Great Yarmouth.
Unfortunately due to the conditions and the time the yacht had been in distress some damage was encountered to the yacht, especially to the radar system.
The all-weather lifeboat and volunteer crew arrived back to Great Yarmouth Town Hall Quay at around 12.30am, where the yacht was handed over to the local coastguard team.
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 1.30am.
Coxswain Paddy Lee said: ‘We launched in undesirable conditions, but I would like to thank my volunteer crew for their efforts especially when we encountered mechanical issues en-route to the casualty vessel. I am pleased the persons on board the casualty vessel were well, and I wish them a safe onward journey.’
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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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