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Wells inshore lifeboat goes to aid of sailing yacht

Lifeboats News Release

A lone sailor had run aground outside Wells harbour channel on leaving the port on the early morning tide.

D-Class Inshore lifeboat out in the sea with crew of 3

RNLI/Ray West

D-Class Inshore lifeboat

The Wells RNLI D-class inshore lifeboat was paged and launched at 6.01am, with a crew of three onboard to render assistance and provide necessary support.

On arrival at 6.08am, the volunteer lifeboat crew found the sailor to be well but the yacht was hard aground and listing toward the low part of the harbour channel.

They managed to correct the list and realign the boat, so it was leaning over toward the beach bank.

The lifeboat crew then ran the yacht’s anchor and line out to seaward and secured it back onboard the yacht.

With the yacht in a safer position, the crew checked the skipper was comfortable with the situation and that no further assistance was required. The yacht was expected to refloat on the late afternoon tide that day (Wednesday 11 October).

The RNLI inshore lifeboat left the scene and returned to the boathouse at 6.22am. The boat was rehoused and refuelled, and ready for the next service at 6.32am.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Adele Meakin, RNLI volunteer Deputy Press Officer on 07989 901733 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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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 entirely 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.