Rottingdean: Coastguards respond after boat runs aground

A red sailboat succumbed to the shore platform at the bottom of cliffs in Rottingdean as the tide reached as low as 0.5 metres.

Officers from HM Coastguard were called from their Newhaven base to the scene on September 3 to assess the situation.

Read more: Yacht manned by one person runs aground on beach

Incidents such as this can cause damage to the ship's hull, leaving it prone to taking on water or sinking in some circumstances.

In low tides, boats are more susceptible to running aground as it can be even shallower further away from shore, which can be deceptive to captains.

The huge ship blocking the harbour entrance

A 58-metre-long cargo boat ran aground at the entrance to Littlehampton Harbour in August 2011, carrying some 1000 tonnes of granite.

The ship, called Mungo, blocked the harbour as it straddled wood marking the harbour entrance. 

It was refloated as the tide came in, with help from tug boats and lifeboats.

File picture of a Coastguard vehicle on Rottingdean beach (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

However, for the sailboat in Rottingdean, it required much less effort to get it back afloat.

The Brighton RNLI contacted the skipper who owns the boat, who said they were happy to wait for the incoming tide to refloat the vessel.