PRESS RELEASE
Skegness Lifeboat Stands-by as Yachts Head for Safety
Russell Matthews, 10/6/10
The Skegness RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) All-weather Lifeboat launched into choppy seas and strong winds this afternoon, after communications with a yacht that had run aground were lost.
Lifetime Care, the relief Mersey-class lifeboat at Skegness, was initially requested by Yarmouth Coastguard MRCC at 1:30pm when Yacht Nahlin ran aground on a sandbank near the entrance to the River Haven at Gibralter Point. However, following discussions between the Coastguard and the skipper of the yacht, it was hoped the rising tide would free her without the need for lifeboat assistance.
Local Coastguards from Skegness were on scene at Gibralter Point and were able to see the yachts from the shore. Another yacht, the catamaran Kedim, was standing by the Nahlin, having crossed The Wash together during the course of the day. Both yachts had two people on board.
When VHF radio contact was lost with Yacht Nahlin, Yarmouth Coastguard requested the Skegness Lifeboat launch at 2:20pm, to stand-by the vessels while they make it to the safety of the River Haven.
In gusting, northerly force 6-7 winds, the lifeboat stood-by the yachts while the Nahlin freed herself from the sandbank and was helped into the river by the Kedim.
Skegness Lifeboat Coxswain, John Irving, said after the launch, "It was very windy out there today - not favourable conditions for sailing. We launched as a precaution and, fortunately, neither yacht needed our assistance in the end."
Lifetime Care returned to Skegness, beaching at 4:45pm and washed down, back in the boathouse at 5:45pm.
NOTES
The all-weather lifeboat (ALB) currently stationed at Skegness is the relief Mersey-class lifeboat 12-11 Lifetime Care. She is providing cover while the station lifeboat 12-008 Lincolnshire Poacher is away in Scotland for a routine re-fit, expected to last until September.
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Yacht Nahlin off Gibralter Point. (Credit: RNLI Skegness)
Catamaram Kedim. (Credit: RNLI Skegness)
Catamaram Kedim. (Credit: RNLI Skegness)
Nahlin and Kedmin heading into Gibralter Point. (Credit: RNLI Skegness)
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