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Gravesend RNLI divert from exercise to assist struggling sailing yacht

Lifeboats News Release

On Tuesday 26 March at 3:26pm, the lifeboat was on exercise when HM Coastguard made radio contact to request their assistance to aid a sailing yacht that was drifting dangerously against wind and tide in Gravesend Reach.

Gravesend RNLI Lifeboat engines running

Martin Fish

Gravesend RNLI Lifeboat underway

The lifeboat arrived on scene one minute later to see a sailing yacht in the middle of the channel crewed by a lone sailor.

Thames Commander Liam Sidders said, ‘We approached the vessel to establish communication and their intentions, due to the vessels current condition verses the state of weather it was decided the best situation would be to moor at the nearest and safest place possible.’

‘The vessel was guided the short distance to Gravesend’s Town Pier where the vessel was made safe and moored up by our Lifeboat volunteers.’

Once the vessel was made safe and no longer a navigational hazard to the large ships that frequently use this reach, lifeboat crew passed vital safety information to the casualty before refuelling and being made ready for service at 3:55pm.


ENDS

Notes to Editor

Gravesend is one of the RNLI’s newest lifeboat stations and one of four lifeboat stations operating on the River Thames – the first stations to specifically cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea.

Our lifeboat is Olive Laura Deare II, an Atlantic 85 B class inshore lifeboat, which is one of the fastest types in the fleet.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Ashley Bard, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Gravesend RNLI email [email protected]

Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager [email protected]

Julie Rainey, Regional Media Manager (South East), on 07827 358 256 or email [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or 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.

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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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