Eastbourne RNLI lifeboats launched twice in two hours
Both Eastbourne RNLI lifeboats were called into action on Tuesday morning when two angling boats suffered mechanical failures within two hours of each other and had to call the emergency services for assistance.
The first call was at shortly after 9am when a small sports boat with two people on board contacted Dover Coastguard by mobile telephone. The vessel was only 400 yards offshore near the entrance to Sovereign Harbour and the occupants were unable to use their anchor and were drifting uncontrollably in the tide. The inshore lifeboat was launched and was soon on scene. The vessel was taken under tow to the beach from where it was originally launched.
Two hours later Dover Coastguard received a VHF radio call from a 23 ft sports/angling boat 8 miles SE of Sovereign Harbour. The lone angler aboard his well maintained vessel was unable to start his engine due to an undiagnosed electrical fault. The all weather lifeboat was launched at 11.30 to go to his assistance. When on scene the casualty vessel was taken under tow to commence its long journey back to harbour. When in the safety of the outer harbour the tow was transferred to a waiting work boat which returned it to its berth.