Both Exmouth RNLI lifeboats and the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew have been involved in a major search for a 14-foot sailing dinghy that was seen leaving the River Exe in bad weather today (Monday 1 September). The small boat with four people onboard was noticed heading out to sea by the skipper of a workboat that was making its way back into Exmouth. He reported his concern for the welfare of the two adults and two small children onboard to the local RNLI with the winds and seas building. After three and a half hours the dinghy arrived in Lyme Regis where the people onboard had to be helped ashore through surf by RNLI crew volunteers.
The workboat skipper who first saw the dinghy was worried for the people’s safety with a strong southwesterly wind of force 5, gusting to force 6, and a two and half metre swell. The Exmouth D class inshore lifeboat was launched immediately to conduct a search along the shore and the RNLI lifeguards on Exmouth main beach were tasked to search with their rescue watercraft (RWC).
The search, which began at 11.40am, eventually involved the Exmouth RNLI all weather and inshore lifeboats, a coastguard helicopter, local coastguard teams, a police helicopter and the independent Sidmouth lifeboat. The decision had just been taken to launch the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat when the dinghy was seen in heavy surf just outside the harbour. The volunteer lifeboat crew, some of them waist deep in water, assisted the dinghy crew to land on the beach and then provided care for one of the children that was very cold.
The two children were wearing lifejackets but the two adults were not even though they had them onboard the Wayfarer dinghy. It’s also believed the family were not carrying any form of communication or any emergency flares.
Kevin Riley, Exmouth RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, says he’s relieved to know the dinghy crew are safe and well but says care should be taken when making any sea crossing:
‘The weather was getting worse, with a gale force 8 imminent, and the seas were building so it was not a good place to be. It is always important to consider the conditions when making an open sea passage like this one, which is around 20 nautical miles long. These crossings are best done in calm conditions so always check the weather forecast before setting out. I would also urge people to carry a VHF radio when on a passage like this, so the alarm can be raised quickly, and lifejackets really are useless unless worn so always put them on when at sea.’
Notes to editors
- The attached picture shows volunteer crew members from Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat station with the dinghy after the family had been helped from the surf. Please credit Andrew Kaye.
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Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
