The first shout followed VHF radio contact from the two-man crew of a small leisure craft to the coastguard reporting that their propeller was entangled with rope and that they were stranded without any power one mile from the harbour entrance.
Littlehampton RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Renée Sherman and volunteer crew launched at 4.14pm on Tuesday 23 August and headed out to sea towards the stranded vessel. During the journey the crew of the craft reported that they had been able to restart the engine. The lifeboat crew escorted the craft back to Littlehampton Sailing Club, where it was returned to its moorings. The lifeboat returned to the station at 4:40pm where it was refuelled and made ready for service.
The second shout happened at 8.50pm when a member of the public called the coastguard reporting that there was a small leisure craft that appeared to have run aground in the low tide at the entrance to the harbour.
The stations D Class lifeboat Ray of Hope and volunteer crew launched and headed up the river towards the stranded craft. On arrival at the scene, lifeboat helmsman Rob Devo reported that the casualty’s skipper was prepared to wait on her own until she was able to refloat on the rising tide. It was agreed that Littlehampton coastguard would monitor the situation. The lifeboat crew dropped the vessels anchor to assist in the refloating and then returned to the boathouse, where the coastguard requested that they waited in readiness, in case further assistance was required.”
