Margate RNLI assists disabled yacht off north Kent coast

Around 11am yesterday (Wednesday 8 March) UK Coastguard received a report from a member of the public of a yacht going round in circles off the harbour at Margate with the occupants waving their arms to attract attention.

Margate RNLI’s D class lifeboat was tasked to investigate and Margate Coastguard Rescue Team also proceeded to the harbour arm. The lifeboat quickly located the 14m yacht with two male occupants aground in the harbour after trying unsuccessfully to moor in the harbour, they reported problems with the yacht’s engine. The lifeboat secured a towline to the yacht and it was moved to safer waters for an assessment of the situation to be carried out.

It was established the vessel could not take the ground due to its single keel and with no suitable and safe berth in Margate and after consultation with the coastguard it was determined that the best way to ensure the safety of the craft and its occupants was to tow it to Ramsgate. The lifeboat towed the yacht to a position off Margate where Ramsgate’s all-weather lifeboat took over the tow.

As weather conditions were not ideal it was decided to seek a secondary port of refuge at Sheerness and Ramsgate lifeboat rendezvoused with Sheerness RNLI all-weather lifeboat off Reculver which completed the tow to the Medway. One of the D class lifeboat crewmembers from Margate remained on board the yacht to assist the occupants until Sheerness lifeboat took over the tow, returning to Thanet on the Ramsgate lifeboat.

Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

· Peter Barker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07974 064304 or [email protected]

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 or [email protected]

· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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.