Two weekend launches for the Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat volunteers.

The Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched with a crew of three at 10.15am on Saturday 3 August to a request from the UK Coastguard to assist a 27-foot bilge keel yacht, with one man onboard, that had run aground at Slaughterhouse Point, Stangate Creek.

The lifeboat crew located the casualty, which had now keeled over on the ebb tide, at 10.32am. Having discussed the situation with the man onboard the yacht it was mutually agreed that for his safety he be taken ashore by the lifeboat to Lower Halstow.

With the man safely ashore, the lifeboat returned to the casualty where it was made fast by the crew, who then stood by on the incoming tide to see if the yacht would right itself after having taken on water when it originally keeled over some hours earlier.

The yacht fortunately did get itself upright without further problems and was taken under tow by the lifeboat at 11.19am and safely secured on a mooring at Lower Halstow at 12.25pm.

The lifeboat was released and was back on station at 1.07pm.

It is believed that the alarm to the Coastguards came from the crew of another craft in Stangate Creek.

Wind SW 3, calm seas and good visibility.

The inshore lifeboat launched again on Sunday 4 August at 7.30pm to reports from the UK Coastguard that a jet-ski with two people onboard had broken down and was drifting out of control in the area of the Kingsferry Bridge in The Swale.

The lifeboat located the casualty at 7.43 pm at Long Reach and took both people on board and with their jet-ski under tow they were landed safely in Queenborough Harbour at 8.07pm.

The lifeboat was back on station and ready for further service at 8.45pm.

Wind SW3 with good visibility.

Ends

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, X, TikTok 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.