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Search for sailing yacht sees Yarmouth RNLI tasked in late night shout

Lifeboats News Release

Yarmouth Lifeboat was tasked by HM Solent Coastguard in the late hours of Friday 25 August to aid in the search for an overdue sailor in the Solent who had not been heard from for some time.

Photo of Yarmouth Lifeboat 17-25 whilst at sea taken from a helicopter

RNLI/Harrison Bates

Yarmouth Lifeboat at Sea

Pagers sounded at 10:22pm and Yarmouth RNLI 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock, Wanderer was launched by HM Coastguard at 10:36pm to the reports of a sailing yacht with one crew on-board of whose means of contact had been lost.

HM Coastguard sent Yarmouth RNLI crews the designated search area which started at the Fairway Bouy, West of the Needles Lighthouse then roughly ran towards the Mudeford area and with good speed, Yarmouth RNLI 17-25 made way to begin their search.

Thankfully, by 10:49pm, Yarmouth RNLI crew members had spotted the missing vessel and crew West of the North-East Shingles Buoy of Hurst Castle and brought the All-weather RNLI Lifeboat alongside the sailing yacht to assess the situation.

A decision was made to place a member of the RNLI crew on-board to make a quick medical assessment, and to offer their assistance in a safe passage back to Yarmouth Harbour.

When the casualty vessel had reached Yarmouth Roads, the stretch of water prior harbour entrance, the decision was made to then secure the vessel alongside the RNLI Lifeboat 17-25 and was then towed into Yarmouth by the RNLI crew where they were met by the Needles Coastal Rescue Team.

Post recovery checks were made, and Yarmouth Lifeboat was then marked as ready for service at 11:40pm

Notes to editors

· Photo attached – stock photo of 17-25 at sea by Harrison Bates

  • 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

● Hebe Gregory, Yarmouth RNLI Trainee Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]

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

[email protected]

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

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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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