RNLI lifeboat crews rescue drifting yacht after steering failure off Newhaven

Volunteer lifeboat crews from Newhaven RNLI and Eastbourne RNLI rescued a drifting yacht off the Sussex coast after it suffered steering failure in rough seas. The alarm was raised at 10.48am on Sunday, March 1, while the Newhaven crew were carrying out a towing training exercise aboard their all-weather lifeboat. During the exercise, the crew […]

Volunteer lifeboat crews from Newhaven RNLI and Eastbourne RNLI rescued a drifting yacht off the Sussex coast after it suffered steering failure in rough seas.

The alarm was raised at 10.48am on Sunday, March 1, while the Newhaven crew were carrying out a towing training exercise aboard their all-weather lifeboat.

During the exercise, the crew received a distress call from a 14-metre sailing yacht around two and a half miles off Newhaven harbour.

The vessel had lost steering and was drifting towards shore, while two of the three people on board were suffering from severe seasickness and were unable to safely manage the yacht.

With sea conditions too rough to evacuate the casualties, the lifeboat crew decided the safest option was to secure a tow and bring the yacht to safety.

The incident also marked an important moment for two volunteer crew members, with Marty McDonald McCrossan attending his first shout and Emmeline Ravilious taking part in her first rescue since qualifying as Tier 2 crew.

Due to the challenging sea conditions, the decision was made to take the vessel to Sovereign Harbour, with support requested from the crew at Eastbourne RNLI.

At 12.36pm, Eastbourne’s all-weather lifeboat launched and rendezvoused with the casualty vessel and Newhaven lifeboat around two miles off Eastbourne Pier where conditions were safer.

Newhaven RNLI then released their towline, allowing Eastbourne RNLI to pass their own lines to the yacht before safely towing it into the shelter of Sovereign Harbour and through the locks, where the vessel was handed over to harbour staff.

The three people on board were assessed following the rescue but did not require any further medical treatment.

James Wishman, senior station technician at Eastbourne RNLI, said:
“It was a challenging operation with the sea state making conditions difficult, but the crew performed brilliantly throughout. Working alongside RNLI Newhaven, it was a real team effort — one crew, working together seamlessly to get the job done safely and professionally.”

The rescue highlights the vital role played by volunteer crews from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in responding to emergencies along the Sussex coastline.