RNLI Fleetwood launch to assist people onboard two stranded yachts

Pagers were triggered just after 2am, with both Fleetwood RNLI's lifeboats launching in calm but rainy conditions less than twenty minutes later. The casualty vessels, two small yachts, were in the process of approaching Fleetwood Marina when they ran aground.

Both RNLI lifeboat crews assessed the situation, and the decision was made to retrieve the people onboard the yachts and attempt to re-float the vessels on the following high tide. This was done by the charity’s inshore lifeboat, with illumination from the all-weather lifeboat while members of HM Coastguard observed from shore.

The yacht crews were then returned to their boats the following morning by the inshore lifeboat, whereupon the refloating was successful and both vessels were escorted into the care of HM Coastguard at the marina.

Tony Cowell, who was Launch Authority on duty for both parts of the callout, said: 'Getting into the marina can be tricky sometimes, and the combination of darkness and another very high - and fast-moving - tide can easily put a vessel in trouble it wasn't expecting.

'In this incident the people onboard both yachts stayed calm and called for help, so we were able to recover them that night and help them and their vessels into the care of our Coastguard friends the following morning.'

Notes to editors

• Fleetwood’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat is name KENNETH JAMES PIERPOINT and is a Shannon class boat.

• Fleetwood’s RNLI inshore lifeboat is named HARBET and is a D class boat.

• Fleetwood lifeboat station has been operating since 1859. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: http://fleetwoodlifeboat.org.uk/

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.

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