Burnham on Crouch volunteers tasked with double shout
A mornings training exercise turned into a double shout for the volunteer crew when they were tasked to assist two sailing boats.
Burnham on Crouch Atlantic Class Tony & Robert Britt had just returned to station around noon on Sunday 6 October following a training exercise when they were dispatched to assist two sailing boats that had run aground about 100 metres apart in the vicinity of Creaksea Sailing Club.
Conditions at the time was close to low water, sea state slight 0.5m-1.25m waves, strong WNW wind gusting up to 32mph.
'Sailing Boat 1' with three people onboard, taking part in their first race, grounded too close to shore for the volunteer crew to attach a line in order to re-float them so their anchor was dropped awaiting the tide to turn.
'Sailing Boat 2' had one person onboard, the volunteer crew managed to attach a line in an attempt to tow the sailing boat into deeper water but this failed so again the anchor of the sailing boat was dropped awaiting the tide to turn.
Later in the day once the tide had turned, both sailing boats successfully refloated without damage or injury to the casualties.
A message of thanks was later received by the volunteer crew: 'We were Sailing Boat 1, I would just like to thank the crew of TRB for their assistance and deploying our anchor to deeper water we re-floated ok and returned to Fambridge on the tide. Help much appreciated guys.'
The message was gratefully received and much appreciated by the volunteers.
RNLI Media contacts
For more information please contact Peter Harris, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on: 07802 418298 or email:
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.