Bembridge RNLI lifeboat launched during the early hours of this morning (Friday) in response to a Mayday call from a yacht taking on water in the English Channel, with the Royal Navy and Newhaven RNLI also responding to the emergency.
It had been reported to Solent Coastguard at around 23:00 last night (Thursday) that 5 crew members were on board a 12m sailing yacht which was taking on water.
Newhaven’s Severn Class Lifeboat was launched and soon had 4 of the crew – who had been badly seasick – onboard. The 5th the remained on the yacht.
HMS Diamond was also close by and transferred 4 of her crew members to the yacht to assist in pumping the vessel out.
As the night progressed, Solent Coastguard decided the assistance of Bembridge RNLI was required.
Launching at 03:00, the Alfred Albert Williams Tamar class lifeboat took about 20 minutes in Force 5 winds to reach the yacht – which was around 7 miles off the Isle of Wight.
After liaising with the Newhaven Lifeboat, it was decided that the they would take the 4 casualties to Portsmouth and that Bembridge would escort the yacht, which by that time was able to sail at 5+ knots, to Haslar Marina in Portsmouth.
Once the yacht was safely berthed, Bembridge Lifeboat and her volunteer crew then returned to Bembridge and was recovered by 07:00.
Quite apart from the bravery involved, these lifeboat rescuers got out of their nice warm beds & went to help fellow mariners. Heroic efforts on all their parts