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Yarmouth RNLI launched to reports of a boat drifting in The Solent

Lifeguards News Release

Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock ‘Wanderer’ was launched on Sunday 26 June 2023 at 2:08pm to reports of a motor vessel which had started drifting and was unable to anchor due to the depth of the water.

Lydia Pitman/ Yarmouth Harbour

Pagers sounded just before 2pm when a pan-pan call* was made to HM Coastguard by the crew onboard a motor vessel located 1.6 nautical miles east of Yarmouth.

Yarmouth’s RNLI volunteer crew made good speed from their berth in Yarmouth Harbour to the casualty vessel where, once on scene, it was established the vessel had undergone machinery failure.

Another near-by vessel had the casualty vessel, which was making plans to rectify the issues, on tow, before heading back to Lymington.

The lifeboat helped escort the casualty vessel, and the vessel towing them back towards Lymington River before returning to Yarmouth.

The Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service at 2:40pm.

If you find yourself in difficulty, or you see anyone in difficulty in the water, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Notes to editors:

* A pan pan call is often used when a vessel has broken down, suffered significant
structural damage, or someone on board is ill but their condition is not immediately life
threatening. Repeating pan pan three times says, ‘it’s serious, we need help but there
isn’t a critical and imminent danger to the boat or anyone on board.’
● Attached is a photograph of Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock ‘Wanderer’ heading out of Yarmouth Harbour - Taken by Lydia Pitman, of Yarmouth Harbour – consent given.
● Yarmouth Station opened in 1924, then moved location in 1994 and most recently was refurbished in 2023.
● Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock ‘Wanderer’ came into
service in 2001, prior to that Yarmouth RNLI had an Arun Class Lifeboat 52-08 Joy and John Wade which was in service for 23 years.

RNLI media contacts

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland
(SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man (1308 and 006329F), the
Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney | Clayton Engineering Limited (Registered No. 01274923), R.N.L.I. (Sales) Limited
(registration number 2202240) also trading as RNLI Shop, and RNLI College Limited (registration number 7705470), all
companies are registered in England and Wales with registered offices at West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ
● Hebe Gregory, Yarmouth RNLI Trainee Lifeboat Press Officer


● Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252


For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on
01202 336789

RNLI online
For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
News releases, videos and photos are available on 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
over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.

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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