Fleetwood RNLI assists yacht in Fleetwood Channel

The charity’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Kenneth James Pierpoint was launched at 6pm after being called upon by HM Coastguard, who had received a distress call from a pleasure yacht that had encountered difficulties while attempting to approach Fleetwood.

On arrival at the casualty vessel, it was determined that the yacht had suffered damage to her forestay, compromising her ability to run under sail, and had suffered mechanical issues while attempting to make her way up the channel under engine power against the tide. She had run aground and was secured by anchor to the sandbanks. The volunteer crew assessed the vessel and stood by to await support from HM Coastguard Knott End, who attended the scene and secured the casualty vessel. The lifeboat then returned to station at approximately 7pm.

The tide having turned, the All-Weather Lifeboat returned to the casualty vessel at midnight, reassessing the situation and deciding that the safest procedure for all concerned was to tow the vessel to harbour. This was then done, delivering the vessel with four persons aboard to HM Coastguard Fleetwood who were waiting at the marina.

The RNLI volunteers returned to station at approximately 2:20am.

Tony Cowell, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Fleetwood RNLI, said “The Wyre Channel is a strong current and has caught any number of inbound vessels over the years. In this case we’re glad to have had assistance from our friends at both Knott End and Fleetwood Coastguard, and to see all aboard brought in safely.”

Notes to editors

• Fleetwood’s RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat is name KENNETH JAMES PIERPOINT and is a Shannon class boat.

• Fleetwood’s RNLI Inshore Lifeboat is named HARBET and is a D-Class boat.

• The RNLI is supported entirely through voluntary donations, and Fleetwood lifeboat station has been operating since 1859. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to:: http://fleetwoodlifeboat.org.uk/

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.