Lifeboat helps historic coble stuck during festival

The RNLI helped eight passengers from the stranded Three Brothers coble

A low tide at the Bridlington Coble Festival led to a call-out for the RNLI on Saturday.

Eight passengers were rescued when a 112-year-old fishing vessel was left stranded on a muddy sandbank near Bridlington harbour.

The Three Brothers was taking part in the town's Sailing Coble Festival, which celebrates the traditional fishing boats and offers boat trips, music and entertainment.

Ash Traves, Bridlington RNLI helm, said it was clear the passengers "were unable to make safe passage onto the harbour pier" due to the tide conditions, and without the lifeboat there was "no way" they could have disembarked until late evening.

None of the other cobles could help the Three Brothers due to the low tide

The Ernie Wellings lifeboat reached the coble within two minutes and, as it has a low draft, it was able to navigate a narrow water channel and reach the stranded vessel.

The lifeboat took the passengers back to dry land via the Chicken Run pier in the harbour.

Ian Thompson, skipper of the Three Brothers, said: “Whilst going astern into our usual mooring, I managed to misjudge the depth of the water and sadly the rudder got stuck in the mud."

He added that he was pleased "not a single person got their feet wet", and thanked the volunteers, who he said had "skilfully dealt with the situation".

The Three Brothers is a fishing coble built by Baker and Percy Siddall in 1912. It is now run by the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society.