RNLI Rye Harbour launches three times in twenty-four hours

A planned early-morning joint training exercise with flank station Littlestone started the day, building on a similar combined exercise the previous weekend. The focus this time was the safe towing of vessels.

No sooner had the inshore lifeboat Hello Herbie II returned to the Harbour to be washed down and prepared for service than at 12.19pm there was a request from HM Coastguard to attend a sailing vessel that had become grounded on a sandbar off Camber Beach. Helm Tony Peters appraised the situation on arrival and it was concluded that nothing could be done to re-float the yacht until the water level rose with the tide.

The vessel's owner chose to stay on board, monitored during the day by lifeguards at Camber and by HM Coastguard. At 8.14pm the lifeboat launched again: the re-floating was successful and crew-member Matt Ellis transferred from lifeboat to yacht to ensure that all was well whilst it was escorted back up the River Rother to a safe mooring.

Paul Bolton, Lifeboat Operations Manager, commented: 'Our crews today worked tirelessly to achieve a safe outcome for the yacht and its owner. They showed a high level of professionalism and their many hours of training paid off as the operation was carried out efficiently and safely. The strong sense of commitment at Rye Harbour to saving lives at sea was shown by the number of volunteer crew at the station to support the shout.'

RNLI Media contacts

· Martin Bruce, Rye Harbour RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer (07789) 818878 [email protected]·

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

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

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland.

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.