Sunday evening plans interrupted for Walton and Frinton RNLI crew

The three crew of the yacht had called for help when, having spent the day sailing from the continent, they were unable to start their engine.

With darkness now upon them there was also concern that their batteries would fail depriving them of navigation lights and other systems which they required to make it safely through the busy harbour.

Walton and Frinton lifeboat crew quickly located the yacht just to the north of The Naze using radio direction finding equipment and safely assisted the casualty vessel past the busy container port at Felixstowe and into Shotley Marina.

A Coastguard team from Holbrook met the yacht at Shotley to assist them through the lock and into a berth alongside the pontoons.

The Tamar class lifeboat Irene Muriel Rees then returned to its berth in Titchmarsh Marina around 1.30am on Monday. After mooring up and preparing the lifeboat for service again the crew were then able to return home to their beds.

RNLI Media contacts

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.