Burnham RNLI Home Page > Burnham RNLI Launch Archive

August 7, 2005
Lifeboats launched after yacht runs aground in River Parrett

Both Burnham-On-Sea's lifeboats were launched on Sunday morning (August 7th) after a yacht ran aground in the River Parrett.

The D-Class and Atlantic 75 boats were called out at 10:18am and launched shortly afterwards from the town's jetty.

A yacht, called the Kittiwake, had run aground on a sandbar at East Dunball Point near Hunstpill.

With the vessel stuck on the mud bank, the two yachtsmen onboard - one aged 58 from Weston and the other aged 43 from Burnham - were taken onboard the Staines Whitfield before being safely brought back to shore at the town's Yacht Club.

The yachtsmen said they had contacted Coastguards after apparently misjudging the ebb of the tide. The Coastguard had then requested the assistance of the RNLI.

Burnham Lifeboat Press Officer Mike Lang said: "The yacht’s skipper, who was an experienced local sailer and well used to Burnham-On-Sea waters, apparently misjudged the depth of water, and ran aground on a falling tide. There was no immediate danger, and signs were good for a successful recovery on the subsequent evening tide."

The yacht was refloated on the next tide later in the day and returned to shore at the Burnham Sailing Club at around 8.20pm.

RELATED LINKS:

Burnham-On-Sea RNLI Home Page

Interactive 360 degree photo of the mouth of the River Parrett