A CREW were forced to abandon their vessel which had suffered engine problems and “violently” grounded in the sea.

The shipwreck was one of several incidents the RNLI Littlehampton crew were tasked with attending over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

On Saturday, April 16, the volunteer lifeboat crew were called to assist in the rescue of the crew of a yacht in trouble.

After an attempt to re-float the vessel, the crew had reported to the coastguard that they had suffered engine problems and were “grounding violently in the swell”.

Littlehampton’s B-Class lifeboat Renee Sherman was launched and arrived at the scene moments after the yacht’s two crew members decided to abandon ship and made their own way to the beach.

The Argus: A crew were forced to abandon their vessel in a shipwreck incident in Littlehampton. Credit: Harry Gregory A crew were forced to abandon their vessel in a shipwreck incident in Littlehampton. Credit: Harry Gregory

Despite a flooding tide, the draft of the B-class lifeboat was too great to safely navigate to the yacht to attach a recovery line, so Littlehampton’s D-Class Ray of Hope vessel was also launched in order to assist.

Following an assessment, it was determined that due to the condition and the sea state, the vessel was still aground and taking on water at the stern.

“It was concluded that re-floating the yacht was not an option, so it was made fast using lines to a groyne,” a RNLI Littlehampton spokesman said.

“The lifeboat crews reported to HM Coastguard that no further actions could be taken and both lifeboats were stood down, returning to the boathouse at midnight.”

Earlier that day, the lifeboat crew were tasked with attending a 24ft yacht in difficulty offshore from Elmer, near Middleton, following a call from a concerned member of the public.

The lifeboat and coastguard rescue teams arrived on the scene at 3.39pm to find the vessel had run aground to the west of Elmer rocks as the tide was falling.

“The water depth was too shallow for the lifeboat to safely navigate to the yacht, but the coastguard team were able to walk to the vessel and confirm that the two crew on board were safe,” the spokesman said.

“The yacht’s crew decided to wait for a rising tide later in the evening to re-float the vessel. The lifeboat was stood down at this time and returned to the boathouse at Fisherman’s Quay.”

RNLI Littlehampton lifeboat operations manager said it’s been a “busy few days” as the good weather tempted people to head out to sea.

“As a new leisure sailing season gets underway in our coastal waters, a general recommendation to those setting to sea is to ensure that maritime charts are up to date, you have relevant tide tables, at least one means of communication and that equipment on your vessel, including safety equipment, is fully operational and in date – particularly if it hasn’t been used over winter,” he said.

“Most importantly, always wear a lifejacket.”