
Eastbourne RNLI launch to yacht needing assistance
Eastbourne RNLI's volunteer crew were paged at 7.13pm on 2 June after an 11m yacht with three people on board put out a distress call.
Both vessels were met in the locks by more members of the RNLI crew who helped get the casualty vessel safely moored at a pontoon.
'The conditions at sea were challenging and the safest course of action was for us to establish a tow and get the yacht into Sovereign Harbour were their crew could get the problem resolved' Coxswain Mark Sawyer said afterwards.
The shout is just the start of a busy weekend for the volunteers at Eastbourne RNLI as they will be at Eastbourne's annual 999 Weekend. Weather and operational needs depending, they will be putting on a display on Saturday and Sunday as well as hosting a stand at the arena with a D class lifeboat that members of the public can see at close quarters and find out how it operates.
Media Contacts:
Daniel Baldock, Eastbourne RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]
Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer London London and South East (07785) 296252 [email protected]
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.
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.