Yarmouth RNLI tasked to three shouts across two days
Yarmouth lifeboat volunteers have had a busy 48 hours which saw them tasked to three separate incidents where their assistance was required by HM Coastguard.
Shout one:
Yarmouth RNLI volunteers were awoken just before 7am on Monday 27 October 2025 to their sounded pagers requesting to launch by HM Coastguard after a call from a 22-metre sailing vessel was received.
The casualty vessel was located 20 nautical miles south of the Needles Lighthouse and required assistance in the choppy early morning waters due to a mast onboard snapping.
Yarmouth’s all-weather lifeboat made best speed through the swells and arrived alongside just after 7:30am to discover that the casualty vessel’s mast was still attached at the forestry of the bowsprit (spar extending forward on the bow) and after several attempts made by crews, the bowsprit was parted and freed the vessel.
In the four to five meter swells, trained RNLI volunteers were able to pass across a towline to the casualty vessel so that the large Severn class lifeboat could then tow the casualty vessel to safety.
A decision was made that owing to the tidal conditions, the most appropriate location would be to take the yacht towards Portsmouth, where they were then moved to Haslar Marina before proceeding on their passage.
Yarmouth RNLI then began her journey back to Yarmouth Harbour where they were marked as ready for service at 3:30pm.
Shout two:
The following day, Tuesday 28 October, Yarmouth RNLI were tasked to a motor vessel two and a half nautical miles north of the Needles Lighthouse to the reports of a lone sailor who had hit a rogue wave which had caused the windscreen to shatter. As well as a loss of power, the broken glass from the shattered windscreen caused several injuries, mainly to the sailor’s face.
Yarmouth Lifeboat launched at 3:45pm and arrived on scene alongside the casualty vessel just after 4:05pm.
Three volunteer crew were transferred onboard and administered casualty care, whilst a fourth was put onboard to steer the vessel back to Yarmouth Harbour where they were met by members of the Needles Coastguard team and the IOW Ambulance Service. The casualty was then checked over by paramedics who then transferred them by ambulance to St Mary’s Hospital for further treatment.
Yarmouth lifeboat returned to service at 4:50pm.
Shout three:
A few hours later, 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) was tasked at 8pm by HM Coastguard to conduct a shoreline search between Yarmouth Harbour and Colwell Bay. To extend search capabilities, Lymington RNLI was also tasked to assist, and Yarmouth’s daughter boat ‘Y-Boat’ was also lowered into the water and proceeded to continue the search in more shallow waters.
All assets were then stood down at 9pm after the casualty was located safe on land. Yarmouth RNLI was then marked as ready for service at 9:15pm.
Lifeboat Operations Manager, Tom Carlstedt-Duke said: ‘I am often in awe of the efforts of lifeboat crews, but the last two days have been exceptional. Not only were there three very different shouts, including a nine-hour tow of a 60’ yacht from mid-channel to Portsmouth in rough weather, but this was at a time when half the available crew were signed up to a three-day casualty care training course requiring them to take time off work (some without pay).
`This highlights their commitment to reaching the required skill levels, together with the teamwork and dedication to respond to multiple complex demands in a compressed period of time. It is very satisfying that this resulted in three successful outcomes to all the shouts.’
Notes to editors
§ Photos attached include Yarmouth Lifeboat whilst at sea during in rough swells attending to a vessel with a snapped mast.
§ 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.
§ 2025 marks Yarmouth Station's 101st year in service.
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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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