23 & 24 July 2008
23:45 |
ILB |
At 23:45 Yarmouth Coastguard paged for the launch of the ILB following a MAYDAY call from the yacht Ardtalla. The vessel had left Wells
harbour on the evening tide on passage to Lowestoft. As she left the harbour she got into difficulties (later found to have been caused by a rope around her
propeller) and went aground on Bob Hall sands to the North of Wells beach. There was a swell on the sands and this was breaking over the vessel as she grounded.
The ILB launched at 23:58 arriving on scene at 00:02 but was unable to tow the Ardtalla off the sands as the tide had dropped too much. The
crew assisted in making the 28ft yacht ready for re-floating on the morning tide and brought the casualty crew ashore. The skipper had sustained minor burns to his
hand when letting off a red flare. The lifeboat crew treated the injury in the boathouse. After a few hours sleep the lifeboat crew reassembled and the ILB relaunched
to assist the casualty to re-float. At 09:45 she was safely re-floated and resumed her passage to Lowestoft. The ILB was re-fuelled, re-housed and ready for
service at 10:15. Wind: E2. Sea: Slight
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3 July 2008
17:18 |
ALB |
At 17:18 Yarmouth Coastguard requested the launch of the ALB to assist a 28 foot yacht Pepsand after it had suffered engine failure south
of the Burnham Flats buoy. The casualty was unable to make headway under sail due to only light airs and a strong ebbing tide and was in danger of being carried
into the newly constructed wind farm. At 17:30 the ALB launched and arrived on scene at 18:25 to find the casualty had been carried further towards the wind farm.
A towline was passed and the ALB and casualty proceeded towards Wells harbour arriving at the entrance at 19:55. The casualty vessel was secured alongside the
quay at 20:20 where the ALB departed for return to the boathouse. The ALB was re-housed, re-fuelled and ready for service at 21:30. Wind: WSW 2. Sea: Slight
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25 June 2008
09:44 |
ILB |
At 09:44 Yarmouth Coastguard requested an immediate launch of the ILB to a person who had been seen in distress on a flooding tide, holding on to a
boat to the south of the boathouse. At 09:51 the ILB launched and located the casualty who was clinging onto a tender. The casualty had fallen overboard whilst
transferring equipment from his yacht to his tender and was unable to swim due to an injury received during the fall. He had been swept with the flooding tide until
he managed to take hold of another tender. At 09:57 the crew lifted the casualty into the ILB and landed on the beach access ramp to await the arrival of an ambulance.
At 10:14 the casualty was transferred to the ambulance where he was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The ILB returned to station at 10:22 and was re-housed,
re-fuelled and ready for service at 10:42. Wind: SW3. Sea: Calm
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10 June 2008
20:43 |
ILB |
At 20:43 Yarmouth Coastguard requested the launch of the ILB to a vessel thought to be in trouble off Holkham Bay. At 20:51 the ILB departed the
boathouse for a low water launch in Holkham Bay, launching at 21:04 and starting a parallel search to 1 mile offshore. The local Coastguard team had arrived on
scene and after speaking to the first informant, concluded that he had in fact seen 2 persons with a shell tent and from a distance believed it was an upturned boat.
The ILB was stood down at 21:24 and after a low water recovery in Holkham Bay, returned to the boathouse 21:49. The ILB was re-housed, re-fuelled and ready for
service at 22:06. Wind: W2. Sea: Calm
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8 June 2008
12:35 |
ILB |
At 12:28 Yarmouth Coastguard paged for an immediate launch of the ILB further to a report from the local Coastwatch team who had
sighted two windsurfers in trouble on the West side of Bob Hall Sands with a strong ebbing tide. The ILB launched at 12:35, arriving on scene at 12:40. One
of the windsurfers had a broken sailing rig and was suffering with a medical condition and exhaustion after being unable to make headway against the ebbing tide. The
casualty was taken onboard the Inshore Lifeboat with his board and returned to the safety of the boathouse, arriving at 12:48. The other windsurfer whose board
and rig were intact managed to return to the safety of the beach unaided whilst the ILB stood by. The ILB was re-housed, re-fuelled and ready for service at 13:15.
Wind: NE 3. Sea: Slight
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25 May 2008
07:49 |
ILB |
At 07:47 Yarmouth Coastguard requested the immediate launch of the ILB to a group of youths cut off by the incoming tide on the marshes to the North East
of Wells. The crew were paged at 07:49. It was soon established there were in fact two groups, one in the area of Fleets Drain to the SE of the boathouse and the second
on the marshes to the East End of the town.
At 07:58 the ILB proceeded to the first group telling them to remain on the shore as they would be safe on the higher ground
there while the group at the East End were taken ashore. The ILB arrived with the second group of seven teenagers at 08:04 and transferred them to the nearby slipway.
The ILB returned to the first group of five and transferred them across the channel to the Beach Bank where they were met by the local coastguard team. The ILB
returned to station and was re-housed and ready for service at 08:52. Wind: NE 5. Sea: Slight
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5 May 2008
19:13 |
ILB |
At 19:13 Yarmouth Coastguard paged for an immediate launch of the ILB following a report from a member of the public that four persons
were in trouble and cut off by the tide in Holkham Bay. The ILB launched from the boathouse at 19:21 and proceeded to the area arriving at 19:26. The ILB
ascertained that the four persons were safe and required no assistance. As a precaution, a further search of the beach area was carried out with nothing else
being found. The ILB departed at 19:36, arriving at the boathouse at 19:42. The boat was re-housed, refuelled and ready for service at 20:15. Wind: ENE 2. Sea: Slight
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The Dutch motor barge Robin's Nest safely anchored in Wells Harbour
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4 May 2008
16:15 |
ALB/ILB |
At 16:15 Yarmouth Coastguard paged for the launch of the ALB to assist the Robin's Nest, a 72ft Dutch motor barge, positioned off Brancaster
harbour, with one person onboard suffering breathing difficulties. The Lifeboat Medical Adviser was contacted and advised that he would be unable to make it to the
boathouse in time for an immediate launch of the ALB. The ALB was launched at 16:25 and proceeded to the casualty. At 16:37, when the Lifeboat Medical
Adviser had arrived on station, the ILB was launched from the boathouse to transfer him to the ALB.
Both boats arrived on scene off Burnham Overy Harbour at 16:50, where the LMA and 2nd Coxswain were transferred to the casualty. After a medical
assessment by the LMA, it was confirmed that the barge skipper's condition had stabilised. It was decided to place another crew-member from the ALB onboard and to
escort and anchor the casualty vessel in Wells harbour. Both the ALB and casualty entered the harbour at 17:39, to be met by the ILB which had returned and collected
an anchor and warp, the casualty's own being deemed unsuitable. Robin's Nest was moored to the east of the boathouse at 17:55. The LMA reported that the
skipper's condition was under control having taken his own medication and that no further medical assistance was required.
Both boats returned to station at 18:00 and were subsequently re-housed, refuelled and ready again for service at 18:45. Wind: ENE 2. Sea: Slight
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3 May 2008
15:46 |
ILB |
At 15:46, Yarmouth Coastguard paged for an immediate launch of the ILB to assist a windsurfer on the East side of the boathouse.
He was seen by the local Coastwatch team waving his arms as a signal of distress. The ILB launched at 15:56 and arrived on scene at 15:58, collecting
both the surfer and his board before returning to the boathouse at 16:01. The ILB then returned to collect the sail and was ashore at 16:07. The boat
was re-housed, refuelled and ready for service at 16:35. Wind: SE 3. Sea: Slight
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We also still have a limited number of copies of the commemorative booklet produced
for the Eliza Adams anniversary in October 2005. Please click here for more information
and an order form.
Wells Lifeboats are featured in two new books.