10 August 2008
Shoreham Lifeboat Station
Lifeboat rescues 24.5 metre sailing barge in
severe gales
Shoreham’s offshore lifeboat launched Saturday afternoon to rescue a 24.5
metre Dutch Sailing Barge, with three people on board, that had suferred
mechanical failure and was now in danger of foundering, in heavy seas and
south-westerley winds gusting at severe gale force nine, off Brighton beach.
The corporate event vessel “Generation Journey” had, earlier that day, started out on
a passage from Littlehampton to Portsmouth when she began to experience
mechanical difficulties. In deteriorating weather conditions the crew established that
they would not be able to attempt re-entering the harbour at Littlehampton and
informed Solent Coastguard that they intended to seek a berth and shelter at
Shoreham.
As the vessel approached Shoreham they were informed by the harbour authorities
that, due to lack of suitable moorings and commercial shipping movements, they
could not allow them to enter. The crew of the sailing barge decided that their only
option was to try and make it to the safety of Brighton Marina and continued on, very
close inshore, passed Shoreham in very heavy seas.
Less than an hour after passing Shoreham Harbour the steel barge finally suferred
total engine failure and, after calling the coastguard for help, Shoreham Lifeboat was,
at 4.18pm launched to assist.
Fifteen minutes after launching the lifeboat arrived on scene to find that the barges
crew had managed to drop anchor and the boat was just holding its position, but was
now less than four hundred metres offshore, adjacent to West Street, Brighton, with
three metre high waves smashing over her bows. With the fishing boat “Our Sarah
Jane” standing by, in case additional assistance was required, the lifeboat came as
close as possible to the barge and managed to pass over a tow-line to the crew of
the stricken vessel. With a short tow-line in place the lifeboat managed to hold the
barge with her ‘bows to sea’ whilst the crew slowly hoisted the anchor, once this was
clear of the water the tow to the marina began.
With the flat bottomed, shallow draft barge being buffeted by worsening sea
conditions and severe gale force winds the tow-line was slowly lengthened to help try
and control the vessel which was continually veering off course, the friction at this
point welding the line around the towing post of the lifeboat, increasing fears that in
may break under the strain.
After intially concerned that there was no room available for a vessel of this size, the
master at Brighton eventually managed to clear enough moorings to allow the
lifeboat and her charge to make for safety of the marina.
The lifeboat crew now secured a shortened tow-line and made preparations for what
would be a very difficult entry into the marina, with the three metre high seas
crashing into the sea wall and washing back over both vessels. After negotiating
almost the full length of the sea wall and finally clearing the marina entrance the
lifeboat, now assisted by a boat from the marina authorities, safely moored
“Generation Journey” before, two hours after being called out, pushing their way out
of the marina entrance and returning to station.
Coxswain of Shoreham Lifeboat, Peter Huxtable, later praised his crews performance
in what he described as having been “very difficult and testing conditions”
Photograph:
24.5 metre sailing barge “Generation Journey” safely under tow. RNLI SHOREHAM
Further Information
Dave Cassan
Mobile 1 07734 000810
Mobile 2 07525 177182
Office Hours 01903 854908
Home 01273 452036
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