Donate now

Eastbourne Lifeboat rescues 42ft Yacht.

Lifeboats News Release

Eastbourne RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was launched on Wednesday evening (23 Sept) to assist a 42ft yacht with three people on board which was struggling to make way in unfavourable sea conditions.

Casualty vessel being towed into harbour

RNLI/Carl Pocock

Casualty vessel being towed into harbour
Download image
The casualty vessel was on passage from Sweden to the Mediterranean when it suffered its second mishap of the journey having previously got entangled in abandoned fishing gear off Ramsgate and towed into port by a passing fishing boat. Having removed the obstruction and continued their passage, the crew encountered adverse sea conditions off Eastbourne and decided to use their engine to make better progress. Unfortunately that’s when the engine developed a fault and had to be shut down. With the prospect of trying to round the potentially treacherous Beachy Head against wind and tide the crew wisely contacted HM Coastguard for assistance. Eastbourne ALB was requested to attend. Quickly on scene the volunteer lifeboat crew took the casualty vessel and its exhausted crew under tow back to Sovereign Harbour for repairs.

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.

About the author

Bob Jeffery
Lifeboat Press Officer, Eastbourne Lifeboat Station

Categories