Lymington RNLI crew rescue yacht tender aground on Keyhaven marshes.
The volunteer crew of Lymington RNLI were called at 3.35pm on Monday 12 November to go to the aid of a small inflatable dinghy reported as having become stuck on the edge of the reeds in the Keyhaven River.
Launching into moderate seas and with a South Westerly Force 4 breeze in the Solent, the Lymington crew aboard Atlantic 85 (B-882) David Bradley made quick progress to the Keyhaven river entrance to find the unfortunate yacht crew, who had been returning from their moored vessel, aground on the marsh edge having drifted there when their engine failed and the oars of the 2.4m inflatable dinghy where insufficient to propel them against wind and tide.
Unable to get close to the dinghy due to the shelving marsh line, Lymington RNLI lifeboat put a crewman into the water to walk to the tender. From here a tow was established and the dinghy pulled out to the lifeboat allowing the yacht crew to be transferred onto the lifeboat for the short journey upriver to Keyhaven Quay for debriefing by HM Coastguards.
Lymington lifeboat returned to station to be readied for further service at 4.40pm.
Notice to Editors:
· For over 53 years, Lymington RNLI Lifeboat has provided search, rescue and lifesaving capability in the western Solent, Needles Channel and eastern sector of Christchurch Bay.
RNLI Media Contacts:
- Peter Mills, Lymington RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07767 213583 peter@locarno.co.uk
- Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 paul_dunt@rnli.org.uk
· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 email: pressoffice@rnli.org
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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.
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