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Three lifeboats search for missing yacht

Lifeboats News Release

Hartlepool RNLI volunteers were paged by Humber Coastguard at 2.33pm on Friday 17th June 2022 to assist a 30ft yacht with two persons aboard that had suffered mechanical failure 2 miles off Crimdon on the East Durham coast.

RNLI/Tom Collins

Hartlepool RNLI inshore lifeboat 'Solihull' heading out to sea recently.
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The inshore lifeboat 'Solihull' was launched at 2.43pm and made its way to the position north of Hartlepool provided by the skipper but nothing was found. Sunderland and Tynemouth RNLI lifeboats were later launched to assist with the search.
The casualty vessel was eventually found at 4.40pm by the Hartlepool inshore lifeboat crew 7 miles east of Seaham and then towed back to Seaham Harbour by Tynemouth lifeboat.
The Sunderland and Hartlepool lifeboats were then released from the search to return to their respective stations.
Hartlepool RNLI deputy launch authority Steve Pounder said "There appears to have been some incorrect information from the skipper of the yacht that lead to some confusion as to the correct position of the yacht.
Fortunately with the assistance of our colleagues at Sunderland and Tynemouth the situation was resolved and the yacht returned safely to Seaham." The Hartlepool RNLI inshore lifeboat returned to the Ferry Road lifeboat station at 5.30pm and was refuelled and made ready for service by 6.00pm.
Sea conditions were described as slight with a west south-westerly 5 knot wind and good visibility.

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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About the author

Tom Collins
Lifeboat Press Officer, Hartlepool Lifeboat Station

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