Lymington RNLI crew called to search for yacht with engine failure

With the crew already on station for their Monday evening training, Lymington RNLI were called at 6.40pm on Monday 15 October to join the search for a yacht that had broken off a mobile 999 call to the coastguard whilst reporting engine failure.

Unable to re-establish communications the coastguard and search assets had only sketchy information as to the vessel’s location as being in sight of both Old Harry Rocks and the Needles.

Lymington RNLI crew aboard Relief Fleet Atlantic 85 lifeboat (B-880) Martin Frederick Whitehouse searched the eastern arc of Christchurch Bay, the Needles CG Mobile team covered the Isle of Wight shoreline and the all-weather Shannon class lifeboat George Thomas Lacy (ON 13-13) from Swanage RNLI was launched to search the western sector.

After covering an arc where they could see both distinctive chalk stack landmarks and assured that the vessel was not in their designated search area, Lymington RNLI Lifeboat was stood down and returned to station. Swanage RNLI ultimately found the single-handed casualty vessel off Bournemouth, some 4 miles east of Old Harry and took the vessel in tow to Poole in deteriorating visibility.

For further details refer to Swanage RNLI report at: swanagelifeboat.org.uk

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.

· Lymington RNLI’s own Atlantic 85 lifeboat (B-882) David Bradley is off station for investigation into an electronic systems anomaly.

· Location information - Old Harry Rocks is a distinctive chalk stack feature on the Purbeck Heritage Coast midway between Swanage and the Poole Harbour entrance.

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 protected]

· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 email: pressoffice@rnli.org

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.