At 20:40hrs last night, Tuesday 22nd September 2020, H.M. Coastguard tasked Exmouth RNLI All Weather Lifeboat, 13-33 Bridie O’Shea to a report of a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 29 foot motor cruiser in distress east of the coast of Budleigh Salterton. The vessel, with two crew on board, was on passage from Poole to Torquay when it ran out of fuel and was drifting out of control in worsening weather conditions.
The lifeboat was manned by the lifesaving charity’s volunteer crew – Exmouth RNLI Coxswain, Steve Hockings-Thompson, and crew Andy Stott, Mark Sansom, Guy Munnings, Chris Sims and Tim Barnes.
The Lifeboat launched at 20:57hrs and immediately made it way to locate the vessel. It arrived on scene at 21:42 where crew were able to make contact with those on board the boat and make it safe.
A line was secured and the lifeboat towed the vessel to the safety of Exmouth Marina, arriving there at 23:17hrs the same day. Both occupants of the motor cruiser were uninjured.
Exmouth RNLI All Weather Lifeboat Coxswain, Steve Hockings-Thompson, said “It goes without saying that if you are undertaking a long journey by sea you should ensure that you have sufficient fuel for the trip before embarking. In this situation the vessel had run out of fuel some distance out to sea and was drifting in worsening weather conditions. Myself and the crew were able to effect a tow, take the vessel safely to Exmouth and avoid a more serious situation from developing.”
Comprehensive RNLI Safety advice for motorboating and sailing can be found at : https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/yacht-sailing-and-motorboating
