Byline: Eastbourne RNLI’s inshore lifeboat (ILB) has been launched three times so far over the Bank Holiday weekend

Page Content: On Thursday the ILB was launched at 12.08 after a member of the public observed what they thought was a small yacht with nobody on board drifting west passed Eastbourne pier. The lifeboat was soon alongside the suspect vessel only to find the skipper in the cockpit blissfully unaware that he was the subject of a lifeboat launch. With all well the volunteer crew returned to station.

On Saturday, following several 999 calls to Dover Coastguard, the ILB was launched at 15.57 to assist two windsurfers who appeared to be in difficulties in Pevensey Bay. When on scene the volunteer crew found no casualties but observed two windsurfers on the beach. Having thoroughly checked the area with nothing found the crew was stood down and returned to station.

On Sunday morning at 08.45 the ILB was launched to assist four anglers in their small fishing boat which had suffered engine failure and was drifting helplessly. With no working VHF radio on board the anglers had contacted Dover Coastguard via mobile phone. The vessel was taken under tow by the ILB and returned to the beach near the local angling club where safety advice was offered by the volunteer crew.

Byline: Ramsgate’s RNLI lifeboats were launched to two separate incidents during the late afternoon and early evening of Saturday, 4th. May.

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The first incident, at 6.12pm, involved the launch of the inshore lifeboat, the Atlantic 75 class Bob Turnbull, and followed a report of two kite surfers in difficulty in nearby Pegwell Bay. On arrival at the scene the only sign of kite surfers was on the shore and after the RNLI volunteers had confirmed that they were safe and in good health the lifeboat returned to the boathouse, the call being regarded as a false alarm with good intent.

The second launch of the evening was at 8.17pm when the RNLI station’s all weather lifeboat, the Trent class Esme Anderson, was launched to assist a 15m. yacht which had suffered a complete electrical failure some 7.5 miles east of Ramsgate. On arrival at the scene the lifeboat crew took the yacht in tow and brought it and its crew safely into Ramsgate Harbour.   

RNLI media contacts

• John Ray, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (Ramsgate Lifeboat)
07759 480825 / john.g.ray@talk21.com
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789