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Yarmouth RNLI tasked to reports of a drifting tender

Lifeboats News Release

Thursday 16 May saw Yarmouth RNLI tasked by HM Coastguard during their routine practice night after reports came in that a small three metre tender boat had been spotted drifting some ten nautical miles south west of St Catherine’s Lighthouse.

RNLI crew whilst on practice at sea

RNLI/Hebe Gregory

RNLI crew whilst on practice

At 8:10pm, HM Coastguard requested the assistance of Yarmouth RNLI who were out on their weekly practice at the time, doing anchor drills near The Needles Lighthouse.


Yarmouth’s all-weather lifeboat, 17-25 ‘Wanderer’ arrived on scene within 40 minutes of tasking and it was determined after assessing the boat and surrounding area that there were no signs that the boat had been recently occupied but more likely to have come away from a mooring some time ago, or washed out off a beach due to the condition of the vessel.


The RNLI crew recovered the vessel and began passage back towards Yarmouth Harbour. On return, post recovery checks were made and Yarmouth Lifeboat was marked ready for service at 10:30pm.


Notes to editors

  • Photo attached of the evening whilst the crew were out on practice at Alum Bay.
  • Photo attached of 17-25 at its mooring in Yarmouth Harbour.
  • Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock ‘Wanderer’ came into service in 2001, prior to that Yarmouth RNLI had an Arun Class Lifeboat 52-08 Joy and John Wade which was in service for 23 years.
  • As well as 2024 being the year the RNLI celebrates its 200th year, it will also be Yarmouth Station's 100th year in service.

RNLI media contacts

Hebe Gregory, Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]

● Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager (South East & London) [email protected]

Julie Rainey, Regional Communications Lead (South East) [email protected]

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789


17-25 ‘Wanderer’ at Yarmouth Harbour

RNLI/Hebe Gregory

17-25 ‘Wanderer’ at Yarmouth Harbour

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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