Littlestone RNLI called out twice in one day

The first page from HM Coastguard was at 10.08am, where the lifeboat Crew were tasked to launch the B class lifeboat the Jean McIvor with the request assist a yacht with rope around it's propeller not making way in the Channel about 3 miles off Hythe and about 7 miles from Littlestone RNLI lifeboat station.

The lifeboat made best speed to the reported location and spotted the yacht. The yacht had set off from Dover harbour at 7am that morning and had become entangled with some lobster / crab pot lines, the lines had become entangled around their propeller and the pots caught on the sea bed preventing the yacht to make any progress.

The lifeboat crew attempted to free the prop using a knife on a pole with no success, they freed the yacht from the pot lines but unfortunately the propeller was still fouled, due to the location near the shipping lanes and lack of propulsion the decision was to undertake the yacht under tow. Crew members Ron Thrall and Tom Whateley were initially put on board the yacht to assist in lowering the sail and setting up the tow line. Tom stayed on board the vessel as it was towed into Dover, he was well looked after by the Belgian crew with some chocolate. Unfortunately, the rest of the crew didn’t get a look in as by the time they arrived in Dover all that was left was an empty wrapper!

The shipping lanes off Littlestone are the busiest in the world and, without power the yacht could have drifted into serious danger. The decision to tow another boat is not taken lightly but it would have been too dangerous to leave the yacht and crew where it was. The yacht was therefore towed safely to Dover as the nearest harbour. Towing another vessel is both dangerous and slow and our volunteer crew are trained in how to execute it safely. Having helped the stranded yacht berth itself at Dover, our crew were treated to tea and biscuits by our flanking station at Dover RNLI before making the trip back across the bay to Littlestone. The charity lifeboat was then washed down and refuelled ready for service around 5pm.

Just as the last two crew members were leaving station at 5.34pm our second tasking of the day happened and the lifeboat made it's way back across the bay to reports of a 30 foot yacht in trouble at Folkestone Harbour. Due to another fouled propeller, the incoming tide and wind has pinned this yacht against an immovable object and the two crew and their dog were in need of help. Thankfully the Littlestone RNLI lifeboat was aided by another boat in the harbour and the lifeboat managed to tow the yacht out of danger. The yacht was placed on a mooring and once the tide went out they would be able to get to the propeller as the mooring dries out over low tide. RNLI Atlantic Class B85 lifeboat Jean McIvor again returned to station, washed down, refuelled and put back on pager with HM Coastguard.

Spencer Rolfe, Duty launch Authority for the day, said 'It's been a long and tiring day for our volunteers and I'd like to thank everyone who has given up their time to come and help. The lifeboat doesn't launch or recover itself and we rely upon the great family of volunteers we have here at Littlestone to help keep people safe at sea.'

If you would like to volunteer please contact the station or drop in on a Wednesday evening or Sunday morning. [email protected]

RNLI Media Contacts

Clinton Marshall, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]

Stella Sims, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 316675, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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