by BYM Marine & Maritime News

 At 5.11pm, Thames Coastguard received a radio call from the 25ft yacht Nelly requesting assistance after they had run aground and become unsure of their position between the entrances to the Rivers Blackwater and Crouch off the Essex coast. The yachts GPS navigation equipment had failed and the crew could only make a very rough estimate of their position.

Weather conditions were very poor with an easterly force 8 gale and driving rain. Thames Coastguard requested launch of the Walton RNLI Lifeboat, scrambled the RAF rescue helicopter 125 and tasked Bradwell Coastguard Rescue Team to search for the stricken vessel.

The Rescue Helicopter was able to home onto a very weak radio signal from the yacht and Bradwell Coastguard confirmed the exact location when one of the occupants started waving a flashlight towards the shore. Walton RNLI Lifeboat attempted to get to the vessel but was restricted by the very shallow water.

Due to the severe weather conditions and breaking surf battering the yacht, the three occupants of the yacht were winched from the vessel and evacuated ashore by the helicopter into the care of Bradwell Coastguard.

Thames Coastguard Watch Manager Mark Baker says, "This incident highlights the risk of relying solely on a single GPS navigation unit. A vessel's position and track should be regularly plotted on a chart and a backup navigation system employed during an offshore passage."