Yacht beached at East Preston saved by Littlehampton lifeboats

Both Littlehampton inshore lifeboats had to call off their first attempt to refloat the 26ft yacht late yesterday afternoon, but succeeded when they returned in the early hours of this morning.

The drama began at 3.15pm yesterday when the Atlantic 75 lifeboat 'Blue Peter 1' was launched in response to a report from the yacht's crew, off the coast at East Preston.

In strong force 6 southwesterly winds, the yacht's motor failed, and the crew couldn't control her under sail because of the wind and tide strength.

Capsized

As the lifeboat made her way to the reported position, the stricken yacht was spotted capsized, aground, and lying across a groyne. The two-man crew had swum safely ashore.

Littlehampton's D-Class inshore lifeboat 'Spirit of Juniper' also launched to assist with the task of avoiding further damage to the yacht. She was successfully righted, but with the rapidly ebbing tide, it wasn't possible to refloat her, and she remained on the beach.

With lower high tides over the next few days, the lifeboat crews knew that unless an attempt was made to refloat the yacht, she could remain on the beach for more than a week, buffeted and damaged by strong seas.

A decision was made by the RNLI crews to muster at 1am on today to attempt to refloat the at high water.

'Touch and go'

By then conditions were much calmer and soon afterwards both lifeboats were back at East Preston. A kedge anchor was used to keep the yacht stable as the tide came in, and as the boat lifted off the beach, towing lines from the lifeboats took the strain.

Littlehampton RNLI spokeswoman Emma White said after the successful refloating: "It was touch and go, due to insufficient water, as to whether the lifeboats could move her, but with hard work and perseverance she was towed back into the sea and put safely on her moorings at the Arun Yacht Club."

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