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Whitstable RNLI assist beached yacht

Lifeboats News Release

A 30-foot yacht had to be towed clear of the beach by the Whitstable Atlantic 85 lifeboat after the craft went aground on the beach just to the West of the lifeboat station on Saturday morning.

The 30-ft yacht aground on the beach at Whitstable on Saturday morning.

RNLI Whitstable.

The 30-ft yacht aground on the beach at Whitstable on Saturday morning.
The lifeboat was launched at 09.50am and was on scene two minutes later , the yacht having been prevented from grounding on a breakwater by the Herne Bay Coastguard Rescue Team.

A tow was passed from the lifeboat and the yacht and it's single occupant towed into deeper water.

Ater the owner had checked his craft for water ingress and all were satisfied that the yacht was seaworthy the vessel made its way to Faversham under its own power.

Lifeboat Helmsman Dave Parry said “The yacht had anchored off the beach overnight but got pinned on the beach when the wind veered and increased”.

“Herne Bay Coastguard attended to check on the craft and its occupant and when it was clear he wasn't going to be able to get off the beach without assistance they requested the lifeboat be tasked to assist”.

Weather conditions at the time of the incident were force 4 North Westerly winds.

Notes to editors

Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

RNLI media contacts

  • Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
    07741 012004/ [email protected]

  • Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer London/southeast/east Tel: 0207 6207416 Mob: (07785) 296252 [email protected]

  • For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789


The 30-ft yacht under tow by the Whitstable RNLI lifeboat after going aground on the beach at Whitstable on Saturday morning

RNLI Whitstable.

The 30-ft yacht under tow by the Whitstable RNLI lifeboat after going aground on the beach at Whitstable on Saturday morning

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 142,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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