At 1.08pm on 2 April, Exmouth’s Shannon class lifeboat launched following reports of a motor boat in difficulty south of Budleigh Salterton. Whilst launching, volunteers launched D class lifeboat to search another area after an empty tender was washed up on the beach.                                                                                  

The tender belonging to Windjammer had been recovered by Exmouth Coastguard team and as it had been spotted earlier that day by number 7 buoy in the channel, it was suggested that a search of the area was necessary to check nobody had fallen into the water. After a 15 minute search proved no further sightings, volunteers returned to station and D class lifeboat George Bearman was ready for service again by 2pm.

Meanwhile, Shannon class lifeboat R and J Welburn arrived on scene, four miles south of Otter Point, within 19 minutes of launching. The 33 foot motor cruiser had suffered engine failure, causing a steering malfunction and the second engine would not start. The new owner, from Bristol was on passage to Torbay, across Lyme Bay. A tow was established and Exmouth RNLI crew volunteers took him to a berth at Exmouth Marina.

Photo credit: Patricia Mary Hewitson.