Rye Harbour volunteer lifeboat crew responded to a UK Coastguard request to help a yacht in trouble just beyond the mouth of the River Rother on Wednesday March 21.
The inshore lifeboat launched at 11pm in calm, overcast conditions, reaching the yacht in 15 minutes. Taking over responsibility from a Hastings RNLI lifeboat crew already in attendance, two Rye Harbour crew members went aboard the yacht to support the skipper who had become disorientated.
The Rye Harbour lifeboat escorted the yacht safely into the river to moorings near the lifeboat station.
Tony Peters, lifeboat crew member, commented: “Erring on the side of caution was the safest option here. We would far rather go out and put our training to good use than have a situation escalate because someone in trouble at sea has been slow to call for help.”
Martin Bruce
I am the skipper of the yacht in the article and I would like to congratulate the Rye lifeboat crew.
I had fallen into despondency about being the cause of this call out and young Natalie with just a few words lifted me out of my sadness.
The whole team acted in an exemplary manner and deserve all our respect.
I can’t thank them enough.