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Eastbourne RNLI launch to yacht needing assistance

Lifeboats News Release

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.

Tamar with wake behind it

RNLI

Lifeboat launching on service
The vessel had suffered engine failure and was drifting in challenging conditions over a mile south east of Sovereign Harbour. The crew launched the Tamar class all-weather lifeboat and made their way to the vessel. Due to the prevailing weather conditions, fading light and with no other vessels nearby able to offer assistance, Coxswain Mark Sawyer made the decision to establish a tow and bring the vessel back to the safety of Sovereign Harbour.

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.



Tamar lifeboat towing the vessel

RNLI

Lifeboat towing the vessel
Tamar with vessel approaching harbour

RNLI

Approach to the harbour

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.

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