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Unseasonal weather conditions cause sailors to call out Lymington RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

At 5.29pm on Sunday 30 July, Lymington Lifeboat was tasked to attend a 29-foot sailing yacht that had caught a line of lobster pots with its anchor, whilst sheltering from gale-force winds and a flood tide.

Lymington Inshore Lifeboat speeding to casualty

Jason Ludlow

Lymington Inshore Lifeboat speeding to casualty

The lifeboat crew located two vessels to the west of the Lymington River; one was clearly anchored with numerous pot lines around its anchor chain. The other yacht was kindly standing by, ready to offer assistance until the lifeboat arrived.

Crewman James Douch boarded the yacht, checked on the welfare of the solo sailor, made sure the prop was clear and prepared the tow line. The crew freed and buoyed several lines that had fouled the yachts anchor chain and started to tow the yacht to safety.

Once in the relative shelter of the river, the lifeboat received a call from the boat house requesting they assist another vessel that had grounded due to engine failure. The vessel was in fact the yacht that had been standing by not long before and was now in trouble themselves. They had dropped an anchor but were stuck fast. Crewman Ted Ward boarded the yacht, prepared a tow line and not long after they were safely moored next to the previously rescued vessel on the Harbour Master’s pontoon.

Helm James Lever commented ‘Both vessels were well equipped with lifejackets and wearing full wet weather gear. The first yacht would not have been able to clear his anchor without our help due to being a solo sailor and the strong winds. The second vessel was unlucky to have engine failure after stopping to assist others but luckily, we were able to help quickly. All the crew did a great job and I’d like to extend an extra congratulations to Ted on his first official shout since becoming a qualified member of the crew.’

Crew: James Lever (Helm), James Douch, Ted Ward and Gunnar Christensen.

RNLI Contact details:

Jo Styles, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Lymington Lifeboat Station (07725) 640871 [email protected]

Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer, SE and London (07785) 296252 [email protected]

For enquiries outside normal business hours contact the RNLI duty press officer on (01202) 336789

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

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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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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