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Newbiggin and Amble RNLI in sailing yacht joint rescue

Lifeboats News Release

Two RNLI lifeboat were involved in a yacht rescue after the vessel suffered steering failure close to offshore shallows.

Arriving to casualty

RNLI/Richard Martin

Newbiggin and Amble joint rescue

A distress call for help came in around 5.00pm today (Saturday 5 October) from a single handed 40 foot sailing yacht with no steering who had anchored close to the Coquet Island, near to the offshore shoals as the tide began to ebb.

Humber coastguard requested the immediate launch of the Newbiggin RNLI B class lifeboat 'Richard Wake Burdon' along with the Amble Shannon class lifeboat 'Elizabeth and Leonard' to assist the vessel. After a quick passage north Newbiggin RNLI lifeboat arrived on scene to assess the casualty before been joined by Amble RNLI lifeboat shortly afterwards.

With fading light, the on scene weather was fine, but a choppy sea, accompanied by a moderate south east breeze blowing the moderate sea swell, conditions that were causing the yacht to roll adding to the challenges of the rescue. However, after a skilful manoeuvre of the lifeboat, one crew member was safely transferred onto the casualty. A tow was then connected from the larger Amble lifeboat with Newbiggin providing steadying on a stern line during the slow towing operation towards Amble marina.

Once the casualty was safely secured in the marina both lifeboats returned to their respective stations to be washed down, refuelled and made ready for service after a prolonged joint rescue operation.

Newbiggin lifeboat Helm Stuart Chirnside-Ferrier said ' this was a long call for both lifeboats beginning in the daylight and ending in darkness, a time critical rescue with the ebb tide putting the yacht at risk. The volunteers from both lifeboats however worked together to establish a tow into deeper water and onward to the safety of the marina. We were able to employ the training we'd recently carried out on towing techniques for sailing vessels with our neighbouring lifeboat volunteer team.'

Remember if you're in trouble at the coast or see someone in trouble at sea then dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.

Notes to editors

Newbiggin RNLI is based at Sandridge, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland. The station was established in 1851 and currently operates an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat ' Richard Wake Burdon.'

RNLI Media contacts

For more information please telephone Richard Martin, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Newbiggin on 07980 010544 or [email protected], Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

If you would like to find out more about Newbiggin lifeboat station, its volunteers and its heritage then please look at the local website.


Yacht rolling in poor conditions

RNLI/Richard Martin

Newbiggin and Amble joint rescue
Setting up tow with Amble lifeboat

RNLI/Richard Martin

Newbiggin and Amble joint rescue
Setting up stern line with Newbiggin lifeboat

RNLI/Richard Martin

Newbiggin and Amble joint rescue
Newbiggin approaching the casualty vessel

RNLI/Richard Martin

Newbiggin and Amble joint rescue

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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