Wells RNLI ‘ Duke of Edinburgh’ gives aid to a sailing yacht.
The Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Wells RNLI all-weather lifeboat, ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ on Saturday 18 May 2024 at 9.42pm to give assistance to a 10m sailing yacht in difficulties.
The yacht had set sail from Great Yarmouth earlier in the day and were sailing very close to the shore off Blakeney Point. The crew were unfamiliar with the coastline, sailing in darkness and English not their first language were all causing them difficulties and they needed assistance.
The Shannon all-weather class lifeboat launched from Holkham Bay due to the low tide, with a volunteer crew onboard. The ‘Duke of Edinbugh’ proceeded to Blakeney Point.
One of the Wells RNLI volunteer crew went onboard the yacht to assess the situation. No medical assistance was needed, however the crew were tired. In discussion with Humber Coastguard and the Wells RNLI coxswain, the Wells RNLI crew member assisted in navigating the yacht towards Wells Harbour. Due to the low water tide, it was decided to anchor the yacht in Holkham Bay and allow the crew to rest and wait for high tide and daylight hours before proceeding onward, to either Wells Harbour or onwards along the coast.
The Wells RNLI crew member re-joined the all-weather lifeboat and the lifeboat was recovered from Holkham Bay and returned to the boathouse at 1.40am on Sunday 19 May.
Notes to the editor.
Wells RNLI has a D-Class Inshore Lifeboat ‘Peter Wilcox’ and a Shannon Class All Weather Lifeboat ‘Duke of Edinburgh’. The boathouse and the All Weather Lifeboat were new in 2022. The ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ lifeboat was the first UK Launch a Memory lifeboat, which has 15,000 names printed on the decals. This helped to raise much needed funds for the RNLI and attracts thousands of visitors to the station.
Author Adele Meakin, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer at Wells RNLI, Tel 07989 901733
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