Lowestoft RNLI Lifeboat called to help solo sailor after small engine fire

The volunteer crew of Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat was called at 7pm on Sunday 26 July to go to the aid of a 10-metre yacht that had had a small fire onboard and had lost all engine power and some electrics including navigation lights.

Deputy Second Coxswain Nigel Lyman said, “we soon launched our RNLI lifeboat ‘Patsy Knight’ and although we were initially told the yacht was 18 miles East-North-East we located her on radar just 10 miles away.

The very experienced yachtsman told us that a small fire had happened on board in the morning which had knocked out his engine – but he had dealt with it himself and was able to carry on sailing.

The sea was quite choppy and there was a westerly wind with a one to one and a half metre swell. But the sailor was making good headway under sail reaching speeds of 6-7 knots, so, we agreed to escort him until he got closer to Lowestoft.

When we were about one mile from the Stanford Channel, we asked him to drop his sails and as he was in a busy shipping lane towing the yacht into the harbour was agreed as the safest option.

We brought the vessel into the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club Marina and had it moored up by 10pm.”

A lifeboat spokesman said" this experienced yachtsman although sailing alone, was well equipped to cope with the unexpected situation he faced."

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For further information, please contact:

Michael Howes, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI North and East, [email protected]

Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for North East and East England, 07824 518641, [email protected]

Richard Grange, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for North East and East England, 07483 112015, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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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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