Disabled yacht assisted by Margate RNLI

The 13m yacht with six people on board was on passage from London to Ramsgate when at around 5.30pm today (Sunday 9 June) it contacted UK Coastguard reporting they had run out of fuel and were unable to sail due to the benign weather condition.

Finding their craft adrift among ships anchored in the Margate Roads anchorage the occupants asked for assistance and Margate’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat was tasked to assist. Once on scene and after the lifeboat crew had established that those on board the yacht were safe and well the craft was taken in tow towards Ramsgate harbour.

During the passage a local windfarm support vessel offered the yacht some fuel and the tow was slipped to allow the transfer. The yacht’s engine still refused to start however so the lifeboat took the vessel under tow again to the safety of Ramsgate harbour.

Ian Lowe, Deputy Launching Authority Margate Lifeboat said: “The casualty vessel was a well-found yacht and its skipper did the right thing in immediately asking for assistance from the coastguard using the marine VHF radio. The crew were all wearing lifejackets and appeared to be well prepared. Thanks are due to the generosity of the windfarm support vessel in stopping to assist a fellow mariner even though they were now out of immediate distress.”

ENDS

RNLI Media contacts

• Peter Barker, RNLI Margate Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07974 064304 [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

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