Rye lifeboat crew rescues casualty on yacht

Herbie II tows in the stricken yacht. Picture: Paul Bolton

The rescue team at the Rye Harbour lifeboat station was called at 4.24pm on Thursday (July 2) after reports a 28ft fin-keeled yacht was in trouble due to a broken down engine.

Due to the state of the tides, according to a spokesman, the crew required a low-water launch from the beach involving John Rogers as tractor driver.

Jamie Guinn took the helm of Hello Herbie II, the station's Atlantic 85, with Stuart Clark, Lucy Green and George Clark as volunteer crew.

Following the rescue, Jamie Guinn said: ’We launched at the beach into fairly challenging conditions. By the time the casualty was located it was rough and windy.

"We secured a tow and returned with the yacht to Rye to moor safely at Strand Quay."

Chris King, launching authority, said: "The launch went smoothly and the volunteer crew were successful in rescuing the yacht with the broken down engine and the three males on board.

"They worked, as always, professionally and their hours of dedicated training stood them in good stead to bring this shout to a satisfactory and safe conclusion."