CLACTON'S volunteer lifeboat crews were kept busy over the Bank Holiday weekend as they were called to four separate incidents, including one to a boat that sank off St Osyth.

After two busy days of people visiting the boathouse in Hastings Avenue during Clacton Air Show, Clacton RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat was called to the aid of an 18ft speedboat that had run into trouble at Colne Point at 9.35pm on Friday.

The craft had a split hose, which meant the engine had started taking on water.

While proceeding to the scene, Dover Coastguard requested the launch of Clacton's D class lifeboat after a 25ft yacht had run out of fuel and was left marooned about one mile off Clacton.

Due to the state of tide, the larger Atlantic 85 couldn't get in close enough to the speedboat, so they contacted the D class crew and asked them to swap shouts.

A spokesman for the crew added: “As the Atlantic 85 lifeboat arrived on scene with the yacht, a volunteer crew member was placed on board to check on the welfare of its five occupants.

“Two of those were feeling slightly unwell so they were taken off the vessel and evacuated back to the lifeboat station to warm up and get something to eat.

“The lifeboat then headed back out to sea and passed a towline over."

The vessel was then towed back to Brightlingsea Harbour.

At the same time the D class arrived on scene to find the speedboat and its two occupants in shallow water at the entrance to the river Colne. It was also towed to Brightlingsea.

The Atlantic 85 lifeboat was called to the aid of another speedboat that has suffered engine failure close to the shoreline at St Osyth Beach Holiday Park at 5.30pm on Sunday.

The spokesman added: "Upon arrival, there was no boat in sight so we made contact with the informant via Clacton Coastguard.

"It emerged that shortly before the lifeboat arrived on scene, the 15ft speedboat had sunk leaving its three occupants in the water.

"A search began, but soon after it was discovered they were already on the beach after swimming ashore.

"With the occupants being fit and well, the lifeboat was stood down."

The crew again sprang into action at 8.05pm following a call for help from a 30ft yacht that suffered engine failure four miles South West of station.

As the lifeboat arrived on scene, two of the vessel’s five occupants were suffering from seasickness, so two volunteer crew members were placed on board to assess the situation.

Once the crew were happy with the casualties condition a towline was rigged and the lifeboat made its way to Brightlingsea harbour, where Clacton Coastguard and the harbour master were on hand to assist in berthing the casualty boat.

The lifeboat was stood down to return to station 10.15pm.