Aldeburgh Inshore Lifeboat Service Calls
2008
No	Date	Launch Time	Wind Force & Sea State	Description
1	08/02/08	13.10 hrs	SSE 4 Slight	Launched to a yacht that was observed to be making no headway along the coast. Once with the yacht, the ILB crew were advised that it trying to sail to Harwich but was struggling against the wind and tide. The all-weather lifeboat launched to tow the yacht and the ILB stood down once the tow was underway.
2	26/04/08	17.15 hrs	SW 4 Slight	Launched into the River Ore to a speedboat that had broken down and had a person in the water. The ILB located the boat and found that the person had been recovered from the water and was OK. The vessel was towed back to Slaughden Quay where it was met by Aldeburgh Coastguard team.
3	31/05/08	16.50 hrs	NE 2 Slight	Launched into the River Ore to a speedboat that had suffered machinery failure and required assistance back to shore. The vessel was met, a towline attached and towed back to Slaughden Quay where it was met by Aldeburgh coastguard team.
4	15/06/08	14.40 hrs	E 2 Slight	Launched to the assistance of a 40’ yacht that had run aground on the southern tip of the ‘Aldeburgh Ridge’ sand bank, 2.5 miles south east of Aldeburgh. The ILB successfully towed the vessel off the bank and the all-weather lifeboat escorted it for a couple of miles to make sure all was OK onboard. Photo Photo
5	10/07/08	19.20 hrs	SW 4 Slight	Requested to evacuate a person that required medical attention from a yacht in the River Alde near Snape. The ILB was on exercise at Thorpeness point when tasked, so it had to return to Aldeburgh, be recovered and taken through the High Street to launch into the River – this was achieved in an impressive 15 minutes. The ILB crew tended to the casualty and transported a paramedic from the shore to the yacht. The casualty was subsequently airlifted to Ipswich Hospital by Rescue Helicopter 125. Aldeburgh and Shingle Street coastguard teams were also tasked and assisted in the evacuation.
6	11/07/08	18.50 hrs	S 3 Slight	Launched into the River Alde to assist the yacht from the previous evening that was aground at Iken having been left there since the incident and was unsuccessful in refloating at the morning high water. The yacht successfully refloated with the ILB observing and able to assist if necessary. The yacht then continued on its passage back down the river.
7	10/08/08	11.40 hrs	SW 6 Moderate	Diverted from exercise to investigate a report of a large yellow object drifting around off the Martello Tower, south of Aldeburgh. The ILB investigated the area and with the help of the 1^st informant, discovered that the object was a local navigation buoy.
8	10/08/08	13.35 hrs	SW 6 Moderate	Launched to search for a vessel possibly in distress following a report from a fisherman at Sizewell who had heard a ‘pan pan’ distress call on a handheld radio. The ILB searched the coastline between Aldeburgh and Shingle Street, 9 miles south of Aldeburgh, and then up the rivers Ore and Alde. The all-weather lifeboat and local coastguard unit were also tasked but nothing untoward was found. The vessel may well have had a problem that was rectified and then carried on with his cruising thinking no one heard his original call.
9	15/08/08	17.15 hrs	SSW 6 Slight/Mod	Launched to assist a windsurfer that had been seen lying on his board for 10 minutes trying to swim the board back to the shore but being blown back offshore by the wind. The ILB located the surfer and found his rig unusable so he and his rig were taken aboard the ILB and returned to shore.
10	17/0/08	17.55 hrs	S 5 Slight/Mod	Launched to assist two windsurfers that were reported to be struggling in the water at Thorpeness, 2 miles north of Aldeburgh. ILB stood down shortly after launching as the persons had made the shore and were met by Aldeburgh coastguard team.
11	17/08/08	18.30 hrs	S 5 Slight/Mod	Shortly after returning from the previous service the ILB was tasked to investigate a yacht that was observed from the shore to be struggling along the coast and making no headway. ILB went to the yacht and found that it had suffered engine problems but was happy to motor as much as possible towards Walton and anchor up when the engine overheated to allow it to cool.
12	25/08/08	17.15 hrs	SW 5 Slight/Mod	Launched to assist a kite surfer that was reported to be struggling in the water off Thorpeness, 2 miles north of Aldeburgh. The Surfer could not get airborne or get to the shore so his surfing ‘buddy’ reported his plight. The ILB recovered the person and his rig and returned them to the beach at Thorpeness.
13	13/09/08	14.00 hrs	Light Airs Slight	Launched to assist a small motor boat that had run aground in the River Alde at Iken. The vessel was unable to be refloated so the 4 occupants were taken off and landed at Aldeburgh by the ILB.
14	13/09/08	19.50 hrs	E 4 Slight	Launched to assist a yacht that was reported to be aground at Barbers Point up the River Alde. ILB located the 24’ yacht, with 4 persons onboard, and towed it clear of the mud bank and then back to its mooring in the river.
15	26/09/08	14.00 hrs	ENE 2 Slight	Launched into the river to evacuate an injured person from Orfordness to an awaiting ambulance across the river at Orford Quay. The ILB crew assisted in stabilising the casualty along with a paramedic and Aldeburgh Coastguard unit. The casualty was eventually taken to hospital by air ambulance rather than a land ambulance due to his condition.
16	17/11/08	09.45 hrs	WSW 2 Slight	The ILB crew were paged to assist an Aldeburgh fishing vessel that had suffered steering failure and was being washed onto the beach. The crew were stood down shortly prior to the launch as the problem was rectified and the vessel carried on its fishing.

Aldeburgh Inshore Lifeboat Service Calls
2007
No	Date	Launch Time	Wind Force & Sea State	Description
1	15/04/07	10.30 hrs	Light Airs Calm	Diverted from exercise to assist a 34’ yacht aground in the entrance to the River Ore, 9 miles south of Aldeburgh. Harwich Inshore Lifeboat and Shingle Street CG Unit also attended. The yacht was towed off the mud into deeper water by the Harwich ILB and continued on its passage.
2	16/04/07	15.00 hrs	Light Airs Calm	Launched to assist an 11m yacht aground at the entrance to the River Ore. Aldeburgh all weather and Harwich Inshore Lifeboats and Shingle Street coastguards also tasked. The yacht was high and dry so an anchor was laid to assist in refloating it. The crew then settled in to wait for the tide!
3	31/05/07	13.00 hrs	S 3 Slight	Launched to assist in the recovery of a young bull from the River Alde! The steer had been swimming in the river and was stuck in a mud pool. With the help of Aldeburgh CG, the animal was led back across the river to its field and reunited with the rest of the herd. First service call for new boat! Photo1 Photo2
4	18/06/07	05.15 hrs	S 1 Slight	Launched to assist in the recovery of a submerged speedboat, dragging its anchor in the river Ore. Vessel was carried out of the river by the current and probably sunk prior to arrival of the ILB. Search commenced with Aldeburgh CG unit but nothing found. All occupants taken to Orford by coastguard.
5	21/06/07	20.10 hrs	S3 Slight / Mod	Diverted from exercise to proceed to the entrance to the river Ore to locate a kite surfer that was being swept out to sea. The kite surfer was located by the Rescue Helicopter and recovered into the lifeboat. The casualty was returned to the shore and met by Shingle Street Coastguard team.
6	20/07/07	21.15 hrs	SW 2 Slight	Launched to a small vessel aground on a falling tide off Iken in the River Alde. Occupants could not make own way ashore and were in for a long and cold wait to refloat. ILB managed to tow vessel into deeper water and back to Slaughden Quay at Aldeburgh.
7	04/08/07	11.15 hrs	S 4 - 5	Requested to launch into the river Alde by Thames coastguard following a report of a person in the water from a capsized boat. As crew were preparing to launch a report was received that the person had made it to the shore unaided. ILB stood down
8	04/08/07	12.30 hrs	S 4 – 5 Slight	Launched into the river Alde following a report of a capsized boat on a mud bank with no persons nearby. Once at the scene the Aldeburgh coastguard team found the occupant ashore. Due to the remoteness of the area the boat was taken to Orford and reunited with its owner!
9	08/08/07	07.20 hrs	NNW 2 Slight	Launched at the request of Thames Coastguard to assist a 9 metre yacht aground at the entrance to the River Ore. Shingle Street Coastguard and another vessel monitored the yacht until the arrival of the ILB which then towed the yacht off the shingle bank and into deeper water.
10	12/08/07	14.30 hrs	S 4 Slight	Requested to launch by Thames Coastguard to search for a missing vessel in the River Alde with 2 persons onboard. As the ILB was being taken to the launch site it was stood down. Vessel had been located safe and well.
11	15/08/07	00.00 hrs	SSW 7 Moderate	Requested to launch into the River Alde following a report of a dinghy with 3 persons onboard that had lost its outboard engine and were unable to get back to the quay. Due to the inclement weather and darkness the ILB launched and towed the vessel back to the quay.
12	21/08/07	13.35 hrs	N 4 Slight	Launched into the River Alde to search for possible persons in the water from an abandoned sailing dinghy with its sails still set. The vessel was located being dealt with by another vessel and the occupants found safe and well ashore.
13	05/10/07	14.20 hrs	NE 2 Slight	Launched to a small motor boat broken down and at anchor at the entrance to the River Ore, 9 miles south of Aldeburgh. The vessel was taken in tow up the River Alde/Ore to Aldeburgh. Photo Photo
14	14/10/07	08.30 hrs	Light Airs Fog	Launched into the River Alde to search the river banks and water for an 86 year old lady who had been missing from her home since the previous afternoon. Local police and Aldeburgh coastguard team were also searching for the lady who was eventually found, well, ashore
15	09/11/07	10.15 hrs	NW 4 Moderate	The ILB was placed on standby to help with a possible evacuation of people from premises in the town due to overtopping of the river wall cause by a tidal surge in the north sea. Both boat crews helped other emergency services to inform residents of the situation. At shortly after 1pm the water levels dropped and the emergency services were stood down.
16	20/12/07	09.00 hrs	SE 2 Slight	Launched to rendezvous with Harwich ILB who were escorting a craft to the entrance to the River Ore that had previously suffered engine failure. ILB escorted the craft up the river to Orford.

Aldeburgh Inshore Lifeboat Service Calls
2006
No	Date	Launch Time	Wind Force & Sea State	Description
1	13/02/06	11.35 hrs	Light Airs Calm	Launched to assist the local fishing vessel “Excel” that had suffered machinery failure 2 miles NE of Aldeburgh. The vessel was towed back to Aldeburgh beach.
2	28/04/06	16.45 hrs	NNW 5 Slight	Launched into the River Ore to assist an angling boat that had broken down and had been blown onto a shingle bank. The vessel was refloated by the ILB and towed back to its mooring off Orford Quay.
3	29/04/06	17.05 hrs	N 4 Slight/Mod	Launched to search for a possible missing person following the sighting offshore of a kite normally used by kite surfers. The all weather lifeboat, a rescue helicopter and coastguards thoroughly searched the area but nothing was found and no one reported missing.
4	21/05/06	12.45 hrs	SW 5 Moderate	Launched to assist a kite surfer in trouble at the entrance to the River Ore. Whilst proceeding, a call was received saying the surfer was ashore. ILB returned to beach but remained on standby whilst the surfer swan out to recover his board. Eventually stood down
5	24/07/06	15.45 hrs	NE 3 Slight	Launched to a person in trouble swimming off the beach at Thorpeness – 2 miles north of Aldeburgh. Stood down shortly after launching following a report that the person was ashore.
6	29/07/06	16.20 hrs	SSE 3 Slight	Launched into the River Alde to the broken down motor cruiser “Polly” south of Orford Quay. Vessel taken in tow back to Slaughden Quay at Aldeburgh.
7	14/08/06	17.35 hrs	NNW 4 Moderate	Launched to search in the Sizewell area following numerous reports of a red flare firing. Searched from Thorpeness to Minsmere (6 miles north of Aldeburgh) along with the ALB and local coastguard. Nothing found and no reports of any persons or vessels in trouble,
8	17/08/06	19.15 hrs	ESE 3 Slight	Whilst on exercise, diverted by Thames Coastguard to check on the welfare of a vessel off Thorpeness. The vessel had been aground on Aldeburgh beach throughout the day and concern was expressed for the welfare of the occupant. Vessel observed whilst making progress north until off Dunwich where Southwold Lifeboat took over and escorted vessel to Southwold.
9	21/08/06	17.30 hrs	WNW 2 Slight	Launched to search for possible persons in the water following the sighting of an inflatable dinghy being blown out to sea. Dinghy recovered and search of are made – no reports of any missing persons received so search terminated and dinghy handed to coastguard.
10	07/09/06	17.00 hrs	N 5 Slight	Launched into the River Ore to assist a yacht aground in Butley Creek, unable to lay an anchor out, on a falling tide. An anchor was set by the ILB crew to assist in the re-floating of the vessel.
11	07/09/06	20.45 hrs	N 5 Slight	Launched into the River Ore again to assist the earlier casualty. Concern was raised for the elderly gentleman onboard due to the weather conditions and the position of the yacht. The yacht was re-floated and taken to a safe mooring at Orford Quay.
12	08/09/06	21.40 hrs	E 5 Moderate	Launched to a yacht aground at the entrance to the River Ore. Casualty was dragging anchor towards shore so All Weather lifeboat also launched. Yacht eventually beached and the crew assisted off the yacht by Shingle Street Coastguard team. Yacht refloated 24 hours later in calmer conditions.
13	29/10/06	12.00 hrs	NW 4 Slight	Whilst on exercise, diverted to investigate a possible inflatable dinghy quarter of a mile off the Martello Tower – south of Aldeburgh. The object was found to be a navigational marker buoy.
	01/11/06	07.05 hrs	NW 4 Rough	Both boat crews paged to help with a possible evacuation of people from homes in the south of the town following a tidal surge that pushed water over the sea wall and into streets. Fears were raised that the River Alde may burst its banks and cause further flooding. Eventually the water levels subsided and the crew were stood down. Photo1 Photo2 Photo3