A busy twelve hours for Ramsgate RNLI
The volunteer crew of Ramsgate RNLI saw two launches in twelve hours to a yacht with engine failure on Monday 21 September and in the early hours of Tuesday 22 September to a collision in the busy shipping lane between a yacht and a cargo vessel.
A warm evening is always attractive for people who like sailing but with the wind dying completely, and unable to start their engine, the crew of a yacht had no choice but to drop anchor off Stone Bay in Broadstairs, to stop themselves drifting and call for help.
Ramsgate RNLI launched the inshore lifeboat Claire and David Delves at the request of HM Coastguard at 5.09pm on Monday 21 September and once on scene were able to fix a tow line and towed the yacht to the safety of Ramsgate Harbour.
Twelve hours later on Tuesday 22 September at 5.34am the volunteer crew's pagers went off again, this time to reports of a yacht in the shipping lane eight miles North East off Ramsgate near the North East Spit. The English Channel is known as the busiest shipping lane in the world and great caution is needed when crossing it.
The nine meter yacht had collided with a cargo vessel bow on and only had a solo sailor onboard. Thankfully the yacht was of wooden construction and the wood had absorbed the impact to the bow and remained afloat.
A Pilot boat, operating from Ramsgate for Estuary Services Ltd , was in the area and immediately went to the aid of the stricken yacht standing by until the lifeboat
Esme Anderson arrived.
The sailor was unharmed and didn't want to be taken onboard the lifeboat. He was able to skipper the boat back to Ramsgate Harbour, where two of the volunteer crew were placed onboard to help him moor the yacht.
The Coxswain of the Lifeboat Ian Cannon said, ' Sailing is a challenging and exhilarating sport but even more so when undertaken as a solo sailor. We would always recommend that they wear a lifejacket and a lifeline at all times and carry a means of communication. Even the most experienced sailor can be caught out when on a night passage.'
Media contacts:
Karen Cox LPO Email [email protected] Tel. 07779848431
Paul Dunt RNLI Regional Media Officer London and South East. Email [email protected] Tel. 07785296252, 01202 336789.
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.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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