Eastbourne inshore lifeboat launched on Sunday afternoon (23 April) to assist a yacht back to Sovereign Harbour which had suffered engine failure
The skipper of the 30ft yacht contacted Sovereign Harbour shortly after 3pm whilst two miles south of the marina to report that his vessel had suffered an engine failure and that they were unable to enter the harbour entrance without assistance. With both marina locks operating at full capacity harbour staff were unable to assist so the request was passed to HM Coastguard, they in turn requested the launch of Eastbourne lifeboats. The volunteer inshore lifeboat crew were paged and were alongside the casualty vessel within a few minutes. A lifeboat crewman was put aboard and rigged a towline; the yacht was then taken under tow to the safety of the marina locks.