Wells RNLI rescue yacht run aground

The yacht had run aground during the night in the entrance to Blakeney Harbour. During the grounding, the yacht had sustained considerable rudder damage, jammed hard over to starboard.

The lifeboat launched on the beginning of the incoming tide outside the boathouse at 6:42 am and proceeded towards Blakeney harbour and was alongside the casualty at 7:20 am. A decision was taken to place a lifeboat crew member on board the yacht and rig a tow and return to the safety of Wells harbour where repairs could be undertaken.

At 7:34 am the tow was ready and the yacht successfully re-floated. The lifeboat commenced the tow, which was not made easy as the yacht’s jammed rudder caused the yacht to be difficult to control in the seaway.

The lifeboat entered Wells Harbour at 8:40 am and shortened the tow once in the main channel. The yacht was safely tied up on a mooring adjacent to the outer harbour and the two crew transferred to the shore. The lifeboat was subsequently sanitised and refuelled and made ready for service again to be rehoused later in the day on the ebbing tide.

Photograph shows yacht under tow

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Adrian Underwood, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Office for Wells-next-the-Sea RNLI Lifeboat Station on 07976 717304 or [email protected]

Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Media Officer for the North and East on (07824) 518641 [email protected]

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal summer, 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 142,700 lives.

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 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by 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.