Following a mobile phone call to Littlehampton Harbour Board from the skipper of the yacht, the UK Coastguard requested an immediate readiness launch from Littlehampton RNLI.
The yacht with three people on board was sailing towards Brighton Marina, but suffered a problem with fouling to its propeller. Due to no engine power the yacht’s skipper decide to revert to using the sail for the onward journey. When the yacht was nearing Littlehampton, the skipper decided to contact the Harbour Board and requested assistance. Due to the time of the event the Harbour Board had nobody available on the water to help, but told the skipper to call the UK Coastguard, who then called Littlehampton’s RNLI lifeboat station. At 5.51pm on Friday 8 June the stations Atlantic 85 Renée Sherman lifeboat and volunteer crew launched and headed out in fine weather conditions towards the vessel. Initial reports stated that the casualties position was two and a half miles south of the harbour entrance. In the meantime, the casualty had progressed on its journey and was nearing the entrance to Littlehampton harbour. At the scene the casualty was then taken under tow by the lifeboat and was secured safely at Town Quay. The lifeboat returned to the station at 6.45pm where it was refuelled and made ready for service.”