
Wells all-weather lifeboat launches to assist RNLI Skegness with lone sailor
Wells RNLI were paged at 1:45am on Sunday 13 August 2023 requesting Wells all weather lifeboat, Duke of Edinburgh to aid a yacht after concerns for the safety and well-being of the lone sailor had been expressed.
Skegness all-weather lifeboat the Joel and April was launched to render assistance to the yacht and once on scene, started to escort the craft towards Wells earlier in the evening.
Wells all-weather lifeboat was tasked assist Skegness lifeboat and bring the yacht safely into Wells harbour, once it could launch from the station slipway on the incoming flood tide. Wells lifeboat crew were paged at 2:18am and the all-weather lifeboat launched from the northern slipway at 2:49am and proceeded toward the position of Skegness lifeboat and the yacht, which was approximately 11 miles north of Wells harbour.
With clear nights skies and slight sea conditions the all weather lifeboats highly trained volunteer crew arrived on scene at 3:24am by which time Skegness RNLI had placed a crew member on board and attached a tow. Once on scene Wells RNLI had placed two volunteer crew members on board and the tow was taken over from Skegness RNLI which then departed the scene and returned to station.
Wells all-weather lifeboat proceeded towards Wells harbour with yacht in tow and once in the safety of the harbour channel, the tow was disconnected, and the two lifeboat crew on board, assisted the skipper to moor the yacht safely in Wells outer harbour at 05:24am. With the yacht safely moored and the skipper required no further assistance, the all-weather lifeboat was stood down and returned to station and was ashore and rehoused, refuelled and ready again for service at 07:15am
Notes to editors
* Wells RNLI 62ndannual lifeboat service will take place on Sunday 13 August 2023 at 5.00pm from Wells-next-the sea Quay side
* Sunday 13 August RNLI Wells station will be open to the public to view the Shannon class lifeboat Duke of Edinburgh meet the volunteers and learn more about the station and the lifesaving work of the RNLI
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Jessica Curtis, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07860200790 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.