Newhaven RNLI tasked to yacht Mayday 33NM into Channel
Newhaven RNLI tasked to yacht Mayday 33NM into Channel
Lifeboats News Release
Newhaven RNLI and her volunteer crew were tasked at 10.58pm on Thursday 10 November. HM Coastguard requested launch of the Severn class All-weather Lifeboat following a Mayday received from a yacht taking on water 33NM south of Newhaven.
RNLI/Newhaven
Casualty from yacht Mayday is transferred from HMS Diamond onto Newhaven RNLI's Severn class Lifeboat
The 36FT monohull, which was taking on water, had five sailors on board. Four of the crew were suffering from severe seasickness.
HMS Diamond also responded to the Mayday. The Royal Navy’s type 45 Destroyer was first to arrive on scene. Four of the five casualty crew were taken off the yacht. The skipper remained on board. HMS Diamond transferred three of their seamen on to the casualty vessel to assist the skipper.
The yacht was proceeding in a north westerly direction under motor-sail.
Newhaven RNLI drew alongside HMS Diamond to retrieve the four seasick casualties. The Lifeboat then stood by the casualty vessel until Bembridge RNLI, also tasked, had arrived on scene.
Lewis Arnold, Newhaven RNLI Coxswain, says: ‘The four casualties were very seasick, we needed to get them to the closest safe port.’
At 5am Newhaven RNLI docked in Portsmouth to deliver the casualties. While they made their return passage to Newhaven, Bembridge RNLI escorted the casualty vessel to safe port.
After nearly nine hours on service, Newhaven Lifeboat returned to pagers at 7.49am.
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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.
