Historic Yacht Rescued by Yarmouth Lifeboat in Bold Sea Rescue
On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 2:08pm, HM Coastguard called in Yarmouth’s Severn class all-weather lifeboat, Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer), to aid a 48ft motor yacht in trouble off the Solent.
Steering Failure for 87-Year-Old ‘Little Ship’ Estrallita
The volunteer crew raced west towards 1 Bay, where they found the motor cruiser Estrallita—a historic vessel built in 1934—battling 15-18 knot southwesterly winds and choppy seas. On board were two seasoned ex-Royal Navy sailors struggling to keep the yacht steady after losing steering control.
RNLI Launches Towing Rescue to Safe Harbour
Yarmouth RNLI’s coxswain quickly sized up the situation and decided towing was the safest option. The lifeboat secured an alongside tow and towed Estrallita into Yarmouth harbour, guiding the vintage beauty safely to a berth.
Charity Voyage Powered by Courage and Sea Spirit
The Dunkirk “little ship” crew are on a fundraising crusade, having left Norfolk in mid-May. Their mission: to raise money for SSAFA and Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital. They hope repairs will get the classic cruiser back on course, aiming to reach London’s St Katherine Dock by June 17th.
The lifeboat was back in station ready for action by 5:15pm.
Remember, the RNLI is an independent charity, relying solely on voluntary donations to save lives at sea.
