Exmouth all-weather lifeboat called to assist disabled yacht
At 11.27am on Tuesday 6 August 2019 the crew of Exmouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat R & J Welburn were tasked by Solent Coastguard to attend a report of a disabled yacht.
The crew of the eight metre yacht summonsed the lifeboat after they were unable to make sail or start the engines.
The all-weather lifeboat, crewed by Exmouth RNLI Coxswain Steve Hockings-Thompson, Deputy Coxswain Scott Ranft, Mechanic Mark Sansom, Lifeboat Medical Advisor, Peter Aitken and volunteer crew James Searle, Charles Swales and Guy Munnings, launched at 11.46am and located the vessel 6.5 miles south east of Exmouth at 12.10pm.
On their arrival at the location it was confirmed that the boat was experiencing difficulties, unable to start engines or make sail. Its crew, who were uninjured, were experienced sailors, and were en route sailing from Cherbourg to Torbay.
Exmouth RNLI Coxswain, Steve Hockings-Thompson said:
‘We reached the disabled yacht very quickly and took action to secure it and ensure the safety of the crew. My crew successfully rigged a tow and the vessel was taken into Exmouth Marina. We were glad to help the vessel that was clearly in difficulty.'
The lifeboat returned to station at 1.56pm and was back on service shortly afterwards.
Seas were reported as moderate with a 1.5 metre swell and south / south westerly wind.
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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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