Callouts 2004

7/4/04: Launch to assist 40ft Princess class powerboat Elle, 2 pob, unsure of position and with out of date charts and non-functional GPS. CG DF put her close to Barrow No. 2 buoy, confirmed when lifeboat reached her. Vessel escorted to Titchmarsh Marina, originally at 16 knots until one engine of Elle broke down which made progress slower. Casualty towed alongside up river to marina.

Launched: 22:40 RFS: 02:30 Wind: NW 2/3 Sea: slight

11/5/04: Launch to 44ft yacht Chantal bound from Burnham on Crouch to Falmouth with 3 pob, aground and pounding heavily on Long Sand, 1.5 miles south of Black Deep No. 2 buoy. Rescue 125 already airborne on training flight stood by until lifeboat arrived. Yacht refloated, but making water through splits in hull and keel. Pump and two crew placed aboard yacht, where water was up to floorboards in cabin. Pumping carried out continuously whilst yacht towed to Shotley Marina, where it was immediately lifted out of water.

Launch: 14:20 RFS: 18:45 Wind: NNW 4/5 Sea: Moderate

20/5/04: Launch to assistance of yacht Landfall, in difficulties in shallow broken water on Long Sand, east of Black Deep Buoy, 5 pob. Crewman put aboard to assist in weighing anchor and yacht towed to Harwich.

Launch: 22:27 RFS: 02:36 Wind: NE 4/5 Sea: Moderate

1/6/04: Launch to assistance of yacht Noye, 2 pob aground on East Barrow Sands. Clacton Atlantic also launched, passed tow to Walton lifeboat, which then towed casualty clear of sands. Yacht then proceeded on passage to Medway.

Launch: 17:20 RFS: 2005 Wind: E 3 Sea: Slight

2/6/04: Launch to 16ft angling boat Lady Jane II, 2 pob broken down, casualty reported by mobile phone to Thames Coastguard that it was near Stone Point, but was found near Crab Knoll Buoy. Two crew taken on board lifeboat and vessel towed to Titchmarsh Marina.

Launch: 20:48 RFS: 2220 Wind: E 3 Sea: Slight

4/6/04: Launch after mayday call from motor yacht Antares, 4 pob, with engine room fire. Original position indicated vessel off Felixstowe but later correct position, three miles east of Walton pier established. Both Harwich lifeboats had launched before Walton LB. Harwich ILB arrived first to find yacht standing by casualty. Both ALBS arrived at the same time and stood by while it was confirmed that fire was out. As casualty requested to go to Suffolk Yacht Harbour at Levington, Harwich ALB took her in tow and Walton lifeboat returned to station.

Launch: 11:41 RFS: 12:22 Wind: SSE 2 Sea: Slight

4/6/04: While on passage with Relief Lifeboat 47-004 (ON 1095 RNLB St Cybi II CS No. 40) from Levington to Titchmarsh Marina, asked to take over tow of small angling vessel Sea Witch 2 pob, which was in tow of Harwich lifeboat, having broken down east of Harwich Harbour. Tow transferred and Sea Witch towed to marina. Relief lifeboat then moored at marina.

Diverted: 16:30 RFS: 17:30 Wind: SSE 2 Sea: Slight

13/6/04: Launch to 30ft yacht Magali 2 pob bound from Gosport to West Mersea, aground on East Barrow Sands, 6 cables NNW of East Barrow Beacon. Clacton LB also launched. Casualty towed clear of sands and found to have damaged rudder. Towed to moorings at West Mersea.

Launched: 19:36 RFS: 23:56 Wind: ESE 2/3 Sea: Slight

21/6/04: Whilst changing over gear from 1095 to 1075 at Titchmarsh Marina, Thames Coastguard requested lifeboat launch to assist 41ft Motor Yacht Palpito aground on Long Sand Head. Crew member put aboard casualty on arrival at 2038 and tow connected. Lifeboat anchored to await flood tide. When casualty refloated severe vibration was experienced on both engines of the casualty, which was therefore taken in tow to Titchmarsh Marina.

Launched: 19:24 RFS: 02:05 Wind: Variable 2/3 Sea: Slight

18/7/04: Launch to 25ft motor boat Lady Emma, 2 pob disabled due to running out of fuel on passage from Walton to Burnham on Crouch. First position given indicated casualty some three miles off Clacton Pier and Clacton Atlantic 75 lifeboat launched. Clacton LB could not find the casualty at position given and then suffered failure of one engine. New information from casualty suggested it in the Swin, east of the wind mast on the Gunfleet Sands. Walton LB launched and found the Lady Emma about 1.5 miles south west of the Gunfleet Spit Buoy. Casualty taken in tow to Titchmarsh Marina. (This was the first launch using the new temporary landing stage constructed prior to demolition of the old staging)

Launch: 18:51 RFS: 22:37 Wind: E 3 Sea: Slight

19/7/04: Launch to assist 65ft yacht Omar Khayyan broken down south of Long Sand Head, 4 pob. Vessel, which was a former Danish built fishing vessel, ketch rigged and weighing 65 tons towed to Harwich. Three lifeboat crew members put aboard casualty to assist in weighing anchor succeeded in getting engines started during the tow. Casualty released from tow in River Orwell and proceeded to Ipswich under own power. During return to station small yacht with sail problems assisted off the Naze.

Launch: 07:00 RFS: 12:38 Wind: SE 2/3 Sea: Slight

31/7/04: Paged at 13.44 after report of two children in difficulties in the sea off Hipkin’s breakwater at the Naze. Local beach patrol assisted girls ashore. Launch cancelled.

5/8/04: Launch after Mayday call from 43ft yacht Mary Bee aground on Gunfleet Sands 4 pob. On arrival crew member put aboard to assist yacht crew. On flood tide casualty towed off sands without damage and after inspection proceeded under own power back to Suffolk Yacht Harbour on the River Orwell.

Launch: 08:24 RFS: 1147 Wind: NE 3/4 Sea: slight

24/8/04: Launched in response to Mayday call from 35ft ketch Sundance, 2 pob, aground on Sunk Sands near Black Deep No. 5 buoy, Clacton LB also launched. Whilst on way to casualty yacht refloated without damage and continued on passage to Ramsgate. Lifeboat returned to station.

Launch: 10:13 RFS: 11:20 Wind: SW 4 Sea: Moderate

28/8/04: Launch to assist 20ft yacht Seahawk, 2 pob with total power one mile off Frinton Golf Course. When lifeboat reached casualty it had drifted with the flood tide and was found off Holland Haven radar mast. The two drew were taken on board the lifeboat, which then towed the Seahawk to Titchmarsh Marina.

Launch: 21:22 RFS: 23:50 Wind SW 2/3 Sea: slight

30/8/04: Launch to assistance of 43ft steel hulled yacht Nastramo, one person and cat on board, aground on the Long Sand Head. On reaching the position the lifeboat stood by until the flood tide. Strong north westerly winds during the day had decreased but a very heavy swell built up on the flood tide. The Nastramo was pounded heavily in the swells at times being almost on its beams end as the lifeboat approached. During the approach the lifeboat was also pounding heavily with waves breaking over her, the crew on deck often being waist deep in water. As the lifeboat approached going astern, she was hit by a heavy breaking swell and turned 180 degrees, bow on to the yacht. The tow was passed from the lifeboat’s bow to the yacht but the yachtsman was unable to secure it before the rope was washed overboard. A second attempt was made and successfully connected. The lifeboat, working astern then turned the yacht’s bow 90 degrees so it was pointing into the main direction of the swells. The lifeboat then held the yacht steady as the tide rose easing her off the sands when there was sufficient water. During this period waves frequently broke over the lifeboat’s stern, after cabin, wheelhouse and crew working on deck. The lifeboat then stood by as the owner checked his vessel for damage. Due to its strong steel construction no damage was sustained and the yacht resumed its voyage from Harwich to Dover, it’s eventual destination being Antigua. During this operation the lifeboat crew saw numerous red flares in the direction of the Naze. On it’s return passage the lifeboat searched along the bearing of the flares to the Medusa Buoy while Harwich ILB and coastguards searched the Walton Backwaters. It became clear the flares were being fired from inland or possibly the river Stour and the lifeboat returned to station.

Launch: 17:05 RFS: 23:45 Wind: NW 5/6 Sea: Moderate in open sea, very heavy swells on sands.

1/9/04: Launch to 21ft angling boat Spearfish 2 pob broken down one mile north east of the Medusa Buoy. The vessel had a flat battery after fishing all night. Towed Titchmarsh Marina.

Launch: 12:00 RFS: 14:08 Wind: SE 2/3 Sea: slight

6/0904: Paged to report of children in difficulties in the sea near the Albion breakwater. All persons involved recovered safely before lifeboat launched.

Paged: 1530

19/9/04: Launch to assist in full-scale search for 21ft yacht missing from Herne Bay since previous afternoon. The two men on the yacht had made mobile phone calls to people ashore reporting that they had broken down. Walton LB asked to search outer areas of Thames Estuary. Margate and Sheerness AWLBs and Whitstable and Sheerness ILBs together with Rescue Helicopter 125 and Coastguard search aircraft also took part. At 1000 cargo vessel 24 miles east of Ramsgate reported a small yacht drifting with the crew waving for assistance. Belgian Rescue helicopter winched the two men of the yacht and landed them at Dover. There the two men were arrested on suspicion of stealing the yacht. All search units returned to station.

Launch: 06:06 RFS: 10:53 Wind: West 4/5 Sea: moderate

2/10/04: Launch to assistance of 29ft yacht Gothic sending mayday after rudder damage near Eagle Buoy, Colne estuary, 3 pob. Clacton A75 also launched put tow on casualty and held it steady until arrival of Walton LB, which then took over tow and took yacht to Brightlingsea.

Launch: 16:44 RFS: 20:10 Wind: WSW 4/5 Sea: Moderate

5/11/04: Launch to assistance of 17.5 metre Grand Banks Class Motor Yacht Pacific Breeze 4 pob, with steering failure ½ mile north east of Whitaker Beacon. On arrival 2^nd coxswain put aboard casualty, which was then taken in tow towards Burnham. After about 20 minutes 2^nd coxswain reported that he had managed to make temporary repairs to the steering and the tow was released, the lifeboat escorting the Pacific Breeze to Burnham Yacht Harbour.

Launch: 19:32 RFS: 02:18 Wind: W 2 Sea: Slight

7/11/04: Launch to assistance of 28ft catamaran Succession, 3 pob, with engine failure near Outer Fisherman Buoy, Fisherman’s Gat. There was very little wind and the catamaran was unhappy about sailing across shipping lanes. On arrival 2^nd coxswain and assistant mechanic put aboard but unable to repair engine and casualty taken in tow to Brightlingsea where the crew were put ashore by the lifeboat to a waiting taxi. (This was the last launch from the temporary staging)

Launch: 13:40 RFS: 20:25 Wind: Variable 2 Sea: Slight

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