Newhaven RNLI called to yacht mayday below Seven Sisters
Newhaven RNLI called to yacht mayday below Seven Sisters
Lifeboats News Release
Pagers raised Newhaven Lifeboat’s volunteer crew at 4:04am on Monday 25 July. HM Coastguard requested the launch of Newhaven’s Severn class lifeboat 'David and Elizabeth Acland' in response to a lone-sailor on board a 16 metre yacht calling mayday.
RNLI/Newhaven
Newhaven crew attempt approach to casualty yacht in Y-class
The casualty vessel, with one person on board, had a dragging anchor and machinery failure. It was unable to motor clear of the cliffs at Flag Staff Point, east of Cuckmere Haven, where it was reported to be very close to the surf line and at imminent risk of going aground.
The lifeboat arrived on scene at 4.26am, by which point conditions had deteriorated since launch. Weather conditions were force 5 to 6, 25+ knots of south westerly wind, with moderate sea state and fair visibility.
Lewis Arnold, Coxswain says: ‘Once we arrived on scene, we deployed the Y-class lifeboat, the two crew proceeding with caution towards the yacht, but due to sea state and surf were unable to get close enough to the casualty vessel.’
An alternative rescue by an HM Coastguard shore team was unsuitable due to the potential risk of getting cut off by the flooding tide. HM Coastguard agreed to a helicopter for the evacuation of the sailor.
Lewis Arnold, Coxswain says: ‘The helicopter ETA was around 50 minutes. We stood by, remaining in regular welfare communication with the casualty, with two of our crew remaining in the Y-class in case the situation changed.’
The HM Coastguard rescue helicopter arrived on scene. Following an assessment, the winch-man recovered the casualty. The sailor was taken to Birling Gap.
Newhaven Lifeboat stood by until the sailor was safely winched into the helicopter, at which point, with no further risk to life, the lifeboat was stood down by HM Coastguard and returned to station.
Notes for the editor
ALB: All-weather Lifeboat
Y-class: is small inflatable rescue boat operated by the RNLI. The Y-class is used as a small tender carried on board the larger RNLI all-weather lifeboats
ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival
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RNLI/Newhaven
Newhaven Lifeboat stood by while HM Coastguard winch casualty sailor into rescue helicopter
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.
