On the afternoon of 21 July, both Exmouth RNLI’s Shannon class and D-class lifeboats were called out to Lyme Bay to assist two broken-down boats and tow them to safety.

At 4.30pm, Portland Coastguard tasked inshore lifeboat George Bearman to the aid of a broken down 22ft powerboat one mile northeast of Straight Point. The fan belt had broken and the engine could not cool down, so a Pan Pan was broadcast. The powerboat with a small family aboard were towed to their berth at Exmouth Marina. George Bearman returned to the lifeboat station, was washed down and ready for service by 5.58pm.

At 4.54pm, Shannon class lifeboat R and J Welburn was launched to the aid of a fishing boat 24 miles south of Lyme Regis. At 6pm, our volunteers were on scene, fixed a tow rope to the casualty and took both men aboard the 23ft day fisher back to Torquay harbour. Their boat had suffered starter motor failure in the middle of Lyme Bay. Five hours after launching, the all-weather lifeboat was recovered, washed down and taken back to the boathouse.