Extract from Eastbourne Lifeboat website
The All-Weather lifeboat was launched this morning to recover a 12 metre yacht with
seven people on board which had suffered a mechanical failure on its approach
to Sovereign Harbour. With the wind gusting to 38 knots, and in rough sea
conditions, the yacht’s crew were unable to negotiate the harbour entrance and
called Dover Coastguard for assistance.
The yacht was returning to Eastbourne from a weekend in France when the crew found
they were unable to start their engine. With the wind gusting to gale force it
would have been extremely hazardous to attempt to negotiate the entrance channel under sail alone so help was requested.
When on scene two miles offshore, the volunteer crew of the ALB passed a ‘casualty drogue’ (a device to slow the vessel in a following sea) to the stricken yacht. The yacht’s crew deployed the drogue whilst the lifeboat crew rigged a towline. The vessel was then carefully returned to harbour where it was delivered to the safely of the marina locks.
2/05/2011
Time 10.34hrs
Weather Sunny
Wind North Easterly
Force 7-8
Sea Rough
Visability Good