Aldeburgh All-Weather Lifeboat Service Calls
2008
No	Date	Launch Time	Wind Force & Sea State	Description
1	17/01/08	06.55 hrs	SW 4 Slight	Launched to the assistance of a 6m local fishing vessel that had suffered total power failure, 2 miles east of Aldeburgh. A tow rope was passed and connected, and the vessel was towed back to its berth on Aldeburgh beach. Photo Photo
2	28/01/08	09.50 hrs	Light Airs Slight	Launched to the assistance of the same local fishing vessel that had suffered total power failure again! The vessel was located 3 miles south-south-east of Aldeburgh. A tow rope was passed and connected, and the vessel was towed back to its berth on Aldeburgh beach.
3	08/02/08	13.35 hrs	SSE 4 Slight	Launched to the assistance of a yacht off Aldeburgh that was making little headway along the coast. The yacht was taken in tow to Shotley Marina in Harwich harbour. Photo Photo
4	10/04/08	10.30 hrs	Light Airs Slight	Launched to search for a man overboard from a chemical tanker 16 miles south of Aldeburgh. Harwich and Walton lifeboats and Rescue Helicopter 125 from RAF Wattisham, also searched. A body was located and recovered from the water by the helicopter.
5	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
6	27/07/08	20.45 hrs	Light Airs Slight	Launched along with Lowestoft, Gorleston and Caister lifeboats and a rescue helicopter to search for an overdue yacht that had been expected to arrive at Lowestoft earlier in the day. Search stood down when yacht located safe and well in Lowestoft Marina.
7	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 lifeboat searched the coastline between Aldeburgh and Southwold, 10 miles north of Aldeburgh, and then further offshore and back south to Orfordness. The inshore 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. Photo Photo Movie
8	14/08/08	19.30 hrs	Light Airs Slight	Launched to assist a 28’ yacht that was becalmed and had suffered engine failure 3 miles south east of Aldeburgh. The yacht was struggling to make any headway so the lifeboat towed the yacht to Shotley Marina in Harwich harbour where it was safely secured in the marina by the Holbrook coastguard team. Photo Photo

Aldeburgh All-Weather Lifeboat Service Calls
2007
No	Date	Launch Time	Wind Force & Sea State	Description
1	07/02/07	22.10 hrs	SE 1 Slight	Launched to the 13m. Fishing Vessel ‘Christine Annie’ with a fouled propeller 9 miles south east of Aldeburgh. Vessel managed to clear propeller before arrival of lifeboat. Lifeboat rendezvoused with the vessel and escorted it for a while to make sure all was OK. The lifeboat returned to station and vessel continued on its passage.
2	24/03/07	09.50 hrs	NNE 6 Rough	Launched following a call from fishermen at Sizewell reporting a fishing vessel that was at sea in adverse weather. The vessel was OK but would have to cross a shoal on its return and the water was breaking on it quite heavily. The vessel managed to make the shore unaided prior to the arrival of the lifeboat and coastguard unit.
3	15/04/07	10.30 hrs	Light Airs Calm	Diverted from exercise to assist a 34’ yacht aground inside the River Ore entrance, 9 miles south of Aldeburgh. Whilst proceeding, the lifeboat was diverted to another incident so the Aldeburgh and Harwich Inshore Lifeboats assisted the yacht.
4	15/04/07	10.40 hrs	Light Airs Calm	Diverted from previous service call to assist a 31’ yacht with machinery problems 5 miles south of Aldeburgh. The vessel was unable to make headway in the light winds so it was towed towards Harwich harbour. The Harwich lifeboat took over the tow and towed the yacht the remainder of the way to Harwich. Photo Photo2
5	16/04/07	15.00 hrs	Light Airs Calm	Launched to assist an 11m yacht aground at the entrance to the River Ore, 9 miles south of Aldeburgh. Aldeburgh 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!. Photo
6	15/05/07	09.25 hrs	SW 4 Moderate	Launched to a 30’ fishing vessel with propulsion problems 4 miles east south east of Aldeburgh. Vessel taken in tow to River Ore and handed over to another fishing vessel who then towed the vessel up the river. Photo Photo2
7	14/06/07	04.00 hrs	NE 1 Slight	Launched to search for an overdue yacht that had not arrived in Harwich from Ijmuiden (Holland). Harwich and Walton lifeboats, Rescue Helicopter, CG aircraft and various coastguard units tasked to search. Lifeboat asked to search up to 35 miles off coast. Yacht located safe and well by helicopter, 26 miles off Orfordness.
8	21/06/07	20.15 hrs	S 3 Slight / Mod	Launched to a kite surfer that was being swept out to sea at the entrance to the River Ore. Casualty was located by Rescue Helicopter and recovered by the ILB who retuned him to the shore whilst the lifeboat was en-route.
9	09/07/07	10.15 hrs	Light Airs Calm	Launched to a 7 metre angling vessel with gearbox failure 19 miles south east of Aldeburgh. Vessel taken in tow to the entrance to the River Ore where it was handed over to a fishing vessel who towed it to Orford. Photo Photo 2
10	23/07/07	18.15 hrs	NNE 7 Mod / Rough	Launched to evacuate a lady with a hand fracture off a yacht on passage from Lowestoft to Harwich. Crewmember transferred to yacht and prepared casualty. Both then transferred to lifeboat and lady taken ashore to awaiting ambulance.
11	11/08/07	20.45 hrs	S 3 Slight	Launched to a 6 metre rigid inflatable vessel broken down 15 miles south east of Aldeburgh. Vessel towed to Shotley Marina in Harwich harbour and assisted in by Holbrook Coastguard team.
12	24/08/07	00.25 hrs	NNW 3 Moderate	Launched to assist a 27’ yacht, with 1 person onboard, that was in difficulties 8 miles SSE of Aldeburgh. Lifeboat escorted the yacht to Harwich harbour where it was met by the Walton Coastguard team.
13	24/08/07	07.40 hrs	N 2 – 3 Slight	Whilst returning from the previous service call the lifeboat was requested to search for a large metal object, possibly a container, that was drifting on the surface of the water and was considered a danger to vessels in the area. Lifeboat searched off the Suffolk coast but nothing found. The container was spotted later in the day off the Essex coast. The lifeboat eventually returned to station 9 hours after launching!
14	16/09/07	16.30 hrs	SSW 4 Moderate	Launched to a report of a yacht in difficulties 3 miles north east of Aldeburgh. A member of public reported seeing the yacht drifting with no sails up but shortly after the lifeboat launched the yacht set sail and proceeded north at good speed. The lifeboat returned to station - a false alarm with good intent.
15	03/10/07	16.50 hrs	SE 1 Calm	Launched to a 42’ motor vessel that had suffered fuel contamination, which was causing the engine to run intermittently, 3 miles NE of Aldeburgh. Vessel taken in tow to Lowestoft and berthed safely alongside with help from Lowestoft Coastguard team. Photo Photo
16	17/10/07	06.30 hrs	NNW 4	Requested to launch to search for a possible missing person from a naval vessel 7 miles off Aldeburgh, following the activation of the man overboard alarm. Lifeboat launch cancelled when all crew onboard the vessel were accounted for.
17	08/12/07	14.40 hrs	S 8 – 9 Rough	Lifeboat placed on standby to launch whilst a fishing vessel returned to the beach in rough weather. The vessel was connected to its launching tractor with the help of lifeboat crew in drysuits. Once the vessel was safely out of the water, the lifeboat was stood down.

Aldeburgh All-Weather Lifeboat Service Calls
2006
No	Date	Launch Time	Wind Force & Sea State	Description
1	14/04/06	18.30 hrs	SE 2 Slight	Launched to the 52’ motor cruiser “Jasper” with total machinery failure, 1.5 miles south east of Orfordness Lighthouse. The vessel was taken in tow and safely berthed in Shotley Marina in Harwich harbour with help from Holbrook Coastguard team. Photo
2	29/04/06	17.35 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 ALB, ILB, a rescue helicopter and local coastguards conducted a thorough search of the area. Nothing found and nobody reported missing.
3	18/07/06	13.05 hrs	NE 2 Slight	Launched to a 21’ power boat broken down and at anchor close to the beach at Sizewell – 3 miles north Of Aldeburgh. Vessel located and found to have 4 persons onboard. A tow line was connected and the vessel towed to Lowestoft Harbour.
4	01/08/06	13.05 hrs	SW 5 Moderate	Launched to the broken down power boat “Katzpaw”, drifting 2 miles south of Orfordness. The vessel, which had 2 persons onboard, was taken in tow and safely berthed at Shotley Marina in Harwich Harbour with help from Holbrook Coastguard team. Photo Photo2
5	08/08/06	10.30 hrs	NNE 3 Slight/Mod	Launched to act as safety boat whilst a sea mine was detonated at Shingle Street – 10 miles south of Aldeburgh by Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Unit. The mine, which was trawled up by a local fisherman, was successfully detonated. Photo
6	14/08/06	17.45 hrs	NNW 4 Moderate	Launched to the Sizewell area following numerous reports of a red flare firing. Searched from Thorpeness to Dunwich (7 miles north of Aldeburgh) and upto 2 miles offshore. ILB and local coastguard searched inshore and on beach. Nothing untoward found.
7	03/09/06	16.35 hrs	W 6 Mod / Rough	Launched following the sighting of a windsurfer sail being blown offshore. Rescue Helicopter located a kite and guided lifeboat to it. The owner of the kite reported to authorities that the kite had been blown off the beach. Once ashore kite handed back and advice given!
8	08/09/06	15.55 hrs	NNE 5 Moderate	Launched to assist a 40’ cruiser struggling against the wind and tide 4 miles off Aldeburgh. The vessel was making good progress towards Lowestoft Harbour, so the lifeboat provided an escort to the harbour where it was berthed with help from Lowestoft Coastguard team. Photo
9	08/09/06	22.00 hrs	E 5 Moderate	Shortly after return from previous service, relaunched to assist a yacht aground at entrance to River Ore. Yacht beached before arrival of lifeboat and crew helped off by Shingle Street Coastguard team. Yacht eventually refloated 24 hrs later in calmer conditions.
10	13/09/06	13.00 hrs	SE 2 Slight	Launched to assist angling vessel “Prospector III”, broken down with 8 persons onboard, 15 miles ESE of Aldeburgh. Vessel located, taken in tow to Southwold Harbour, and safely berthed with help from Southwold Coastguard team. Photo
11	19/09/06	13.35 hrs	SW 2 Slight	Launched along with Harwich lifeboats and Rescue Helicopter to a ditched light aircraft 10 miles ESE of Aldeburgh. Pilot recovered by helicopter and taken to hospital for checks. Lifeboat searched for any pollution or debris from sunken aircraft.
12	20/09/06	12.35 hrs	S 7 Rough	Launched to assist the yacht ‘Nice Lady of Purbek’ with machinery failure and meeting adverse conditions, 2 miles south of Aldeburgh. Vessel located and taken in tow to Lowestoft harbour where it was berthed with help from Lowestoft Coastguard team. Photo Photo2
	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.