A manic Monday for Ramsgate RNLI crew.

Monday 21 August at 16.40 was the first launch when the all weather Esme Anderson was launched at the request of HM Coastguards after a PanPan was received by a yacht with engine failure near the Broadstairs Knoll.

The all weather had taken the yacht under tow and was off Stone Bay heading towards Ramsgate when a Mayday call was received from a motor yacht taking on water.

This caused a dilemma as the all weather still had the yacht in tow, so a request was made to launch the inshore lifeboat Claire and David Delves to the small angling boat. In the meantime the all weather proceeded as fast as safely possible towards the scene of the sinking motor yacht, which was on route to Ramsgate, with the yacht still in tow, arriving just after the inshore lifeboat.

Two of the inshore crew went onboard the motor yacht with a salvage pump and proceeded to pump the water out whilst the all weather crew stood by just in case their larger pump was needed. When sufficient water had been removed to be able to move the motor yacht safely, a line was passed from the inshore and they were able to tow it into Broadstairs Harbour and moor it up with the assistance of a Coastguard mobile unit.

The all weather Esme Anderson was then able to take the original casualty into Ramsgate Harbour where it was moored up.

Later that evening the third launch was requested at 20.35 when a yacht found itself on the sand bank at the B2 buoy. The inshore lifeboat was launched but as the yacht was hard aground with a low tide they were unable to approach it.

The crew onboard the casualty were contacted by radio and found to be safe with no welfare concerns and in no immediate danger. The decision was made for the crew of the yacht to stay where they were until the tide rose when they would be able to float the yacht and sail away. Regular welfare checks would be made on them by the Coastguard and so the inshore returned to station.

Ramsgate Coxswain Ian Cannon said, ‘ The summer is always a busy time for us with people flocking to the seaside and taking to the water. We are grateful to all of our supporters as the RNLI is purely financed by public donations.’

Karen Cox Lifeboat Press Officer Tel 07779848431 Email [email protected]

Paul Dunt RNLI Regional Media Officer London and South East Tel 07785296252 Email [email protected]

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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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