Weather makes rescue difficult for Littlehampton Lifeboats

Littlehampton lifeboats, Blue Peter I and Spirit of Juniper, were launched at 9am yesterday (Monday, April 27). The 7.5m vessel, which was on passage to Brighton, had run aground the previous night, after trying to shelter from worsening weather conditions in Littlehampton Harbour the previous evening.

It was spotted by a passer by the following morning, and the alarm was raised.

A spokeswoman for Littlehampton RNLI said: "The conditions were harsh with torrential rain, a force seven gale and rough seas pounding the casualty vessel.

"Lifeboat crew Jenny Cradock and Jon Maidment entered the water to deploy anchors and rig a towline to stabilise the yacht and hold its bow into the weather."

As the tide came in, and the depth increased, lifeboats were able to carefully tow the yacht into deeper water.

"With the wind and the sea pushing them from behind the tow into the harbour was very difficult, especially as the yacht had jammed steering."

She added that paramedics were waiting at the lifeboat station to treat the hypothermic men, and that the dog was fine.

Lifeboat operations manager Nick White said: "Spirit of Juniper's helmsman Gavin Simmons displayed excellent seamanship as he undertook a very difficult tow. It was an excellent example of teamwork, this is why our crews train so hard."

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