Lymington RNLI Lifeboat called to assist a 14m yacht aground at Hurst.

Lymington Atlantic 85 lifeboat (B-882) David Bradley arrived on scene to find the yacht hard aground at 90 degrees to the breeze and having spun around on grounding pinned onto the sand bar by the fast running ebb.

The lifeboat crew put a crew member aboard who reassured the four crew on board and checked for water ingress before attaching a tow line to the bow enabling the lifeboat to pull the boat into the wind and building wave pattern.

With the tide still to fall to its lowest, the Lymington crew maintained a tow into the breeze albeit needing to reattach the tow line at times due to the rope breaking under tension.

With the weather deteriorating and the visibility decreasing our flank station at Yarmouth were requested to assist with the all-weather Severn Class lifeboat (17-25) Eric & Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) and once they arrived on scene Lymington RNLI lifeboat transferred two additional crew (one from both lifeboats) to the yacht to secure the stronger and less flexible towline.

Once the tide began to rise and with sea state reducing Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat was able to pull the yacht clear.

With no apparent damage and no water ingress the yacht was able to make its own way to Lymington escorted by both lifeboats.

Yarmouth lifeboat returned to station shortly after 10pm. Lymington lifeboat returned to station at 10.25pm to be immediately re-tasked to a further shout.

Notice to Editors:

· For over 50 years, Lymington RNLI Lifeboat has provided search, rescue and lifesaving capability in the western Solent, Needles Channel and eastern sector of Christchurch Bay.

· The sand bar off Hurst Castle known as ‘The Trap’, is just as the name implies. It is a relatively flat area of sand and small shingle stones in the form of a hook shape extending some 75m into the deep waters of Hurst Narrows at the point where a vessel having missed the flood tide through the gap might seek to tide cheat especially if arriving from the North Channel parallel to the South Western side Hurst Spit. It catches many vessels each year!

· The RNLI Lifeboat Station open days will be on: Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 August 2018 coinciding with the local food festival being held on the adjacent Bath Road Park.

RNLI Media Contacts:

• Peter Mills, Lymington RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07767 213583 [email protected]
• Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 email: [email protected]

· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 email: [email protected]

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 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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok 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 by email.