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First shout of the year sees Yarmouth RNLI tasked to sailor in difficulty

Lifeboats News Release

Yarmouth Lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard on 7 January in response to a call made where the casualty vessel had caught on something when attempting to moor at Freshwater Bay.

Yarmouth Lifeboat 17-25 at Yarmouth Harbour

RNLI/Hebe Gregory

Yarmouth Lifeboat 17-25 at Yarmouth Harbour

Yarmouth RNLI crew pagers sounded at 4.30pm and launched quickly to a single crewed 26ft sailing yacht. Having made good speed, Yarmouth RNLI arrived on scene just before 5pm and it was found that the casualty vessel had fouled the mooring rope and had to be cut free to continue its passage.

After communications with the casualty, a volunteer crew member from Yarmouth RNLI boarded the yacht and helped navigate. Yarmouth lifeboat and the rest of the crew would then offer safety cover as the vessel made its way round the Needles Lighthouse and set course towards Yarmouth Harbour.

As both vessels neared Fort Albert, the tide started going back out and both vessels were then fighting against it, resulting in the sailing yacht losing speed. Yarmouth RNLI Coxswain then made the decision that the best course of action would be to establish a towline and use the All-weather lifeboat’s powerful engines to tow the casualty vessel for the last half mile.

Once the RNLI Lifeboat and casualty vessel had arrived in Yarmouth, they were met by Needles Coastguard Rescue team (CRT) who helped secure the boat on the casualty pontoon behind the Lifeboat's berth. After their shoreside post recovery checks Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat was marked as ready for service at 8.15pm.


Coxswain Howard Lester said. 'This sailor was well prepared for their travels and had the correct means to call for assistance. It's always recommended that when venturing out at sea, you have all necessary safety equipment including devices of communication, be that a mobile phone or a VHF radio.'


Notes to editors

  • Photo attached – 17-25 in the harbour by Hebe Gregory (Yarmouth LPO)
  • 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.
  • As well as 2024 being the year the RNLI celebrates it's 200th year, it will also be Yarmouth Station's 100th year in service.

RNLI media contacts

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

● Julie Rainey, Regional Communications Lead (South East) [email protected]

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