Yacht in danger of grounding on sandbank sparks lifeboat call |
The Lowestoft RNLI relief lifeboat Storm Rider was called out at 8.20am on April 3 to assist the yacht.
Lowestoft lifeboat coxswain John Fox said: "We soon reached the 30ft yacht which was five miles south east of the port and off Kessingland."
A lifeboat crew member went onto the yacht to help the sailor, who had sailed from Ramsgate and had been at sea for four days.
Mr Fox added: "His engine had stopped the previous evening, and he was hoping a friend from Lowestoft could come and get him, but the sea was considered to be too rough, so the coastguard was contacted instead."
Lowestoft lifeboat aids a yachtsman stranded with engine failure. Image: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)
With a southerly force four wind blowing and a good sea swell the lifeboat crew assessed what help could be given.
Mr Fox said: "It was agreed that it was necessary and the safest option to tow the yacht, because it had damaged sails and couldn’t use wind power anymore, and with no engine there was a danger of drifting onto a sandbank.
“The skipper told us that he was about to come full circle having left Great Yarmouth in 1987 and sailed in a different yacht to Cyprus and all around the Mediterranean.
"He then went to live in Ireland for a while and was heading back to East Anglia and was nearly home when he got into difficulties.”
The yacht was brought back into Lowestoft harbour and was moored on the Heritage Quay by 10.40am.