Donate now

Ramsgate RNLI come to the assistance of two yachts in one call.

Lifeboats News Release

The first call was to a yacht with engine failure but on leaving the harbour another yacht was found to be stuck on the sand blocking the inner harbour mouth.

A lifeboat

RNLI/Sarah Hewes

Library photo of All-weather lifeboat Esme Anderson

On a calm sunny Thursday on 18 May just after six in the evening the All-weather lifeboat Esme Anderson was launched at the request of HM Coastguard to a yacht arriving from Belgium which had reported engine failure, and was unable to make way under sail into Ramsgate harbour.
As Esme Anderson was leaving the harbour they found that another Belgian yacht had run aground on a sand bank in the entrance to the harbour blocking the way and so it was necessary to pass a rope to that yacht and tow it into deeper water in order to clear the entrance and allow it to make its way safely into the harbour.
On scene with the original casualty, the All-weather passed a line and towed it into Ramsgate harbour.
The yachts were part of a large fleet of over forty including French and Dutch yachts racing over from Ostend to Ramsgate as part of the Ascension Day race organised jointly by the Royal Temple Yacht Club and the Royal Noordzee Yacht Club in Ostend. The race was over ten hours long and so the tired sailors were very glad to see the volunteer crew of the RNLI when they found themselves in trouble.

Karen Cox Volunteer 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 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.

Categories