Yachtsman Rescued Off Suffolk Coast

Tuesday, 3 March 2026 11:15

RNLI image of the smashed yacht near Lowestoft's Ness Point

A lone sailor has been rescued after his yacht ran aground on rocks close to Lowestoft harbour.

Volunteers from Lowestoft RNLI were called out at 4.41am o Monday (2nd March) after reports that a 10-metre yacht was in trouble off Ness Point, on the seaward side near Hamilton Dock. Waves were breaking over the vessel, which was firmly wedged on the rocks with its keel stuck fast.

The relief all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Storm Rider was launched and quickly reached the scene. The coxswain manoeuvred the lifeboat carefully towards the stranded yacht, allowing crew members to pull the sailor aboard to safety.

He was brought back to the lifeboat station within minutes, where police and the Coastguard Rescue Team were waiting. Although soaking wet, he was reported to be safe and grateful to be somewhere warm and dry while he waited for a relative to collect him.

The sailor told rescuers he had set off two days earlier from the River Orwell near Felixstowe, heading for North Norfolk, but had become lost and suffered seasickness before ending up on the rocks.

An RNLI spokesperson said the rescue highlighted the value of regular crew training, with volunteers ready around the clock to respond to emergencies at sea.