Eastbourne RNLI all-weather lifeboat launched yesterday in response to a mayday distress call from a passing yacht after the crew saw a serious fire break out on a nearby motor cruiser.
Eastbourne all-weather lifeboat ALB) launched shortly after mid-day to assist the 37ft motor cruiser which had caught fire not long after leaving Sovereign Harbour on passage to Brighton. The two man crew were first alerted to a problem on their vessel when a fire alarm was activated. Whilst investigating the cause of the alarm a hatch was lifted which caused an immediate flair up that soon engulfed the entire vessel. With no chance of fighting the fire there was no option but to abandon ship. Fortunately as well as the passing yacht which had raised the initial distress call there were a number of anglers in small fishing vessels in the area who all rushed to assist. The crew of the stricken vessel were taken off to one of these angling boats and the fisherman managed to deploy the anchor of the cruiser to stop it drifting with the tide potentially toward Eastbourne Pier.