Lowestoft RNLI help a solo yachtsman stranded with engine failure
A yachtsman, was helped on the final stages of his journey back to East Anglia after suffering engine failure - with his vessel in danger of grounding.
The volunteer crew of Lowestoft RNLI relief lifeboat Storm Rider was called at 8.20am on 3 April 2026 to assess what assistance could be given to the stranded yacht.
Coxswain John Fox said, “we soon reached the 30ft yacht which had hove to and was five miles south east of the port and off Kessingland. We put a member of our crew onto the yacht to help and the single-handed sailor told him that he had sailed from Ramsgate and had been at sea for four days. His engine had stopped the previous evening, and he was hoping a friend from Lowestoft could come and get him, but the sea was considered to be too rough, so the coastguard was contacted instead.”
“There was a fresh southerly force four wind blowing and a good sea swell as we assessed what help we could give. It was agreed that it was necessary and the safest option to tow the yacht, because it had damaged sails and couldn’t use wind power anymore, and with no engine there was a danger of drifting onto a sandbank.”
“The skipper told us that he was about to come full circle having left Great Yarmouth in 1987 and sailed in a different yacht to Cyprus and all around the Mediterranean then went to live in Ireland for a while and was heading back to East Anglia and was nearly home when he got into difficulties.”
The yacht was brought into harbour and moored on the Heritage Quay by 10.40am
A lifeboat spokesman added, “As a lifesaving charity that provides a rescue service at sea – our crews train for all types of weather conditions and with that competence were very able to help this sailor to get to safety.”
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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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