Exmouth RNLI launch to assist becalmed yacht
Exmouth RNLI lifesaving volunteers were tasked on Saturday after H.M. Coastguard received numerous 999 calls about a motionless yacht off Budleigh Salterton.
At 9.25pm last Saturday 9 July 2022, H.M. Coastguard tasked both Exmouth RNLI lifeboats to several reports of a 16ft trimaran making no progress about one mile off Budleigh Salterton with no indication of any persons on board.
A short time later Exmouth RNLI All Weather Lifeboat 13-03 R & J Welburn and Inshore Lifeboat
D-805 George Bearman II launched in response and made their way to the yacht.
On their arrival with the sailing vessel it was established that two persons were crewing the boat and were attempting to make their way to Teignmouth but had become becalmed in a slack tide with no auxiliary power. The lifeboat crews assessed the situation and escorted the yacht across the bay where they were met by the crew of Teignmouth RNLI B Class lifeboat
B-809 The Two Annes and assisted safely into Teignmouth.
Having ensured the safety of the vessel and its crew both Exmouth Lifeboats returned to the lifeboat station.
Exmouth RNLI volunteer lifesavers who took part in the assignment were :
All Weather Lifeboat : Coxswain : Roy Stott, Lifeboat Mechanic : Andy Stott and crew Mark Champion, Nick Wright, Matt Bragg and Ed Steele.
Inshore Lifeboat : Helm: Harry Griffin and crew Ed Thomas, Jake Butt.
Other volunteers involved were Deputy Launch Authority, Liam Pessell and Shore Crew, Tractor Driver : Henry Mock, Head Launcher : Neil Cannon and crew Jason Luff, Jake Richards and Ewok Dinsdale.
Both Exmouth lifeboats were back on service by 11.05pm that day.
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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