On the brink of the RNLI’s bicentennial celebration, Newhaven Lifeboat’s volunteer crew received a call from HM Coastguard at 6:28 pm on Sunday, March 3. They promptly launched the Severn class lifeboat ‘David and Elizabeth Acland’ to assist a yacht struggling 1.5 nautical miles south of Newhaven breakwater.
Coxswain Lewis Arnold remarked, ‘We’re celebrating this outstanding milestone in the best way we know how.’
The casualty vessel sent up a flare following full engine failure in a smooth to slight sea state and force 3 from the south.
‘The RNLI have been saving lives for 200 years. Today we are proud to commemorate this remarkable achievement.’
Coxswain deemed the safest course of action was to tow the vessel into Newhaven harbour.
‘And we continue to take this life saving responsibility forward into the next 200 years.’
