With less than 6 hours to go before Steve Simmonds retired after 15 years as Coxswain of Bembridge Lifeboat, the ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ was called into action at the request of Solent Coastguard yesterday evening (Saturday).
The volunteer lifeboat crew – including outgoing Coxswain Steve Simmonds – took to the water just before 18:20 to look for 2 Jet Skis thought to be somewhere between Bembridge and Hayling Island.
It was reported that they had run out of fuel and 1 was under tow by the other. A third Jet Ski had gone off to try to get hold of some fuel and had last been seen in Wootton Creek.
Whilst the Tamar-class All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) was heading to the most likely area to start the search, she came across a small speedboat – Wet & Wild – with 2 crew that had also run out of fuel. The Alfred Albert Williams stood by and through Solent Coastguard arranged for Portsmouth RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, that was in transit at the time from Portsmouth to her boathouse in Langstone Harbour, to tow the speedboat to safety.
On resuming her search for the missing jet skis, Bembridge went to the assistance of a 34ft yacht named Timitu, with 4 crew on board, that had reported a problem with their engine – thought to be a small fire. As there was no wind, it was decided to tow her to Portsmouth.
Having safely berthed the yacht in Haslar Marina, the Alfred Albert Williams returned to Bembridge and was rehoused by 21:15.
The 3 Jet Skis are said to have been located by Portsmouth RNLI safe on Hayling Beach.
