EASTSIDE RESCUE - 1998
Eendracht bites the dust at Tidemills
By Laurie Stonehouse and Andy Gilbert
A crowd of onlookers gather on Eastside Beach to witness the rescue of a fairly large sailing vessel. The first picture shows the tow rope attached to the ship, and in the second photograph it appears that the Lifeboat is attempting to free the ship. The final pictures show that the Lifeboat is further away, with the Meeching Tug trying to pull the yacht off the beach and back to freedom.
This is the incident of the Dutch sail training ship Eendracht, which suffered engine failure and ran aground on the beach after leaving harbour in a force 8 gale on October 21, 1998. Two helicopters were scrambled from the Coastguard stations at Lee on Solent and Portland after initial attempts by the Meeching Tug and the lifeboat to tow the ship off the beach had failed. All 51 people on board were winched off by the helicopters as it was deemed far too dangerous to leave them onboard. No one was injured, though some of the crew did suffer from the cold, shock and sea sickness.
Eendracht was towed off on the next high tide and returned to Newhaven to undergo repairs
Eendract beached at Tidemills - 1998
Vicky Delaney
Lifeboat to the rescue
Vicky Delaney
Attempting to tow the Eendract free
Vicky Delaney
Meeching Tug assisting the Eendract - 1998
Private collection of Andy Gilbert