Bembridge RNLI came to the rescue of a lone yachtsman off the South Coast of the Isle of Wight this morning (Thursday).
The All Weather Lifeboat was launched from Bembridge at the request of Solent Coastguard at around 08:50 to locate and provide assistance to the 22ft sailing boat ‘Ruby Tuesday’ – with 1 crew member on board – which had reported gear and mechanical failure.
The volunteer lifeboat crew located the casualty vessel just off St Catherine’s Point and placed her under tow at around 09:50.
The original plan had been to place Ruby Tuesday onto a mooring off the lifeboat station to allow the station’s mechanic Bryan to see if he could repair the engine so that the boat could make her own way into Bembridge Harbour. However, although the boat was placed on the mooring, the owner advised that he was suffering from severe chest pains and therefore was recovered to the lifeboat station at around 12:00 where an ambulance then conveyed him to St Mary’s Hospital for a check up.
The Alfred Albert Williams was recovered and ready for service again by 12:30.
