Hastings lifeboat responds to Mayday call

The lifeboat launched immediately and soon located the vessel which was approximately four miles west of Hastings and drifting eastwards. Once on scene the lifeboat crew assessed the casualty, and with force 5 winds and darkness approaching, the crew had a conversation with the yacht's skipper to establish his welfare. They agreed that the best course of action was to tow the yacht to the nearest harbour, Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour, for safety and repairs.

Once in the entrance to Sovereign harbour the tow was shortened, and the lifeboat took the vessel into the marina via the lock.

Paul McCleery, Hastings lifeboat's full-time coxswain, commented, 'It's never nice being at sea sailing single-handed when the weather is deteriorating, daylight is fading, and you are a long way from home. When a situation of distress then arises which means you can't continue, it is fairly stressful so I am pleased that we were able to locate and assist the casualty and get them into the safety of Eastbourne harbour.'

The lifeboat returned to Hastings lifeboat station at 1am on Friday morning, and was refuelled and made ready for its next service.

This was almost a case of deja vu for the Hastings lifeboat crew who had answered a similar call just four days earlier, on the evening of Sunday 22 June, when a 24-foot yacht was in difficulty off Hastings pier and had to be towed to the safety of Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne.

Pics show Hastings all weather lifeboat Richard and Caroline Colton on an earlier launch

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For further information, please contact:

Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Hastings RNLI on 07479 833723 or email [email protected]

Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager – SE & London on 07724 801305 or email [email protected]

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