On Thursday, July 13 at 8:24pm the lifeboat volunteer pagers went off at RNLI Rye Harbour
Luke Bishop, helm, summed up the shout: “The lifeboat launched at 8:35pm to assist a yacht which had been aground on Camber Sands all day. The yacht had re-floated on the evening tide but subsequently lost power and was getting blown back onto the shore.
“Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat had also been tasked by HM Coastguard and had a crew member aboard the yacht, establishing a tow. An RNLI crew member was put aboard to assist and our Atlantic 85 towed the yacht back to Rye Harbour. The solo skipper was cold and tired after spending some twenty-four hours stuck on Camber Sands so it was good to see him safely ashore where the crew made him a hot drink and checked that he was ok.
“It was another great effort from the crew as establishing a tow in breaking waves and shallow water was challenging and it was an effective collaboration alongside our colleagues from the Pett Level Rescue Boat, HM Coastguard and our shore crew.”
A Pett Level spokesman said: “At approximately 8:30pm we were tasked by Solent Coastguard to attend a casualty yacht aground at Camber Sands. As we were on the water for our regular training session, we immediately diverted to assist the stricken vessel. Our lifeboat provided a tow to the casualty yacht, pulling it out of the shallow surf and into deeper water.
“We then handed over the tow to the RNLI Rye Harbour lifeboat which continued the tow up the river to a safe mooring.
“Great teamwork between neighbouring lifeboat teams, utilising their assets to ensure the safety of the casualty boat and its crew.”
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Martin Geldart .