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Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI investigate a potential navigational hazard

Lifeboats News Release

It was all go again for the volunteers from Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI when at 11.48am on 21 September they were requested by HM Coastguard to investigate the sighting of a derelict sailing dinghy.

RNLI/Peter Harris

Atlantic 85 Tony & Robert Britt on its return to Burnham Marina.

The Atlantic 85 lifeboat Tony and Robert Britt was launched and proceeded to the last known position reported by HM Coastguard which placed the dingy drifting just north of the Sunken Buxey Buoy.

By the time Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI arrived on scene, the abandoned dingy had drifted further and was finally located by the lifeboat crew just north of Raysand Buoy.

The newly qualified volunteer helm from Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI assessed the situation and determined that the dingy was not taking on water and was therefore a potential navigational hazard to other vessels and decided that the best course of action was to take the dingy under tow back to Burnham Marina where it could be removed from the water.

Once extracted from the water, it was identified as a Bosun sailing dinghy (circa 1960/65) designed originally for the Royal Navy Sailing Association and used by sailing schools as well.

RNLI Media contacts

For more information please e-mail Peter Harris, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected]

RNLI/Peter Harris

Hazard removed from the water

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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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