UPDATED: Cowes, Bembridge and Calshot RNLI lifeboats are this lunchtime (Tuesday) attending a 30ft motor catamaran reported to be sinking north of East Bramble Buoy.
A total of 7 people have been rescued from the sinking vessel ‘Twin Wakes’ after the port hull started filling with water, fully flooding the engine compartment at shortly before 13:00. A Mayday call was issued.
Ministry of Defence Police launch ‘Endeavour’ is conveying those rescued to Cowes, where they are expected to be met by Newport Coastguard Initial Response Team.
Meanwhile Bembridge RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) is making its way to the scene of the incident to assist in recovering the casualty vessel. Solent Coastguard tasked Bembridge Lifeboat to launch at 13:48.
Twin Wakes is a Cowes-based 9m motor catamaran used as a committee boat for Solent racing. It was today being used in that role for the J111 one design world championships involving 14 teams from 7 countries.
UPDATE @ 15:00 – Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team are now on scene at Cowes alongside Newport Coastguard Initial Response Team, where the 7 casualties have been brought ashore after abandoning ship.
No one is thought to have been injured.
Bembridge RNLI’s ALB has established a tow and is slowly towing Twin Wakes through choppy seas to Cowes.
UPDATE @ 16:15 – Twin Wakes has been towed safely into Cowes Harbour by Bembridge Lifeboat, escorted by Cowes Lifeboat.
Rescue teams have now stood down from the incident.
Cowes Combined Clubs now face the task of finding a suitable substitute committee boat for Cowes Week, which gets underway on Saturday.
Featured photo: Cowes RNLI
