A busy summer weekend for Ramsgate RNLI volunteers.

The first was on Friday afternoon at 16.19 when the inshore lifeboat Claire and David Delves was launched to a motor yacht off Ramsgate Harbour with engine drive failure. They had deployed their anchor but it wasn’t holding in the Ramsgate Sands.

As part of her training plan to become a helm and to gain experience volunteer Becky Cannon, under the guidance of her father, Coxswain Ian Cannon put a rope on the anchor to assist in lifting it and then the decision was made to take the vessel under tow back into Ramsgate Harbour, where it was assisted to its berth in the inner marina.

In the early hours of Sunday morning the pagers went off at 04.26 and the inshore lifeboat was launched to the assistance of a young person who had got into difficulties whilst swimming off the East Pier. After coming alongside the casualty, the crew assisted them onboard and took them to the RNLI station and after warming up was returned home.

On Sunday lunchtime at 13.33 once again the inshore was deployed to a twenty five metre yacht with engine failure reported to be off Broadstairs. On arrival at the scene it was found that the boat was actually already under tow and was located at the West Quern Buoy. The inshore took over the tow from the assisting sailing boat and brought the casualty on to a pontoon in the Harbour.

Then just before midnight at 23.38 the All weather Esme Anderson launched to a fourteen metre yacht coming from Holland that had run out of fuel and was unable to sail into the harbour due to lack of wind or tide. They were located by the Number 2 buoy in the Ramsgate Approach Channel where a tow rope was passed to the yacht and it was taken in tow back to a berth in Ramsgate Harbour.

Coxswain Ian Cannon said, ‘The busy summer months are a large draw on our resources and we are more grateful than ever to the people who support and donate to the RNLI, as we are solely funded 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]

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.