Having been on 49 shouts for the year at the start of the day, Bembridge RNLI is now up to 53 after being called to 4 incidents today (Friday) – including 2 involving the same yacht.
Bembridge Lifeboat was 1st launched at 10:55 this morning at the request of Solent Coastguard following a Pan Pan call from a 26ft sailing yacht with 2 crew reported to be 5nm SW off St Catherine’s Point without power.
The lifeboat crew made good speed towards the reported position only to then find that the yacht was actually SE of St Catherine’s Point. Upon reaching the yacht, which by that time was sailing quite happily, they were informed by the crew that no assistance was required. They therefore returned to Bembridge and were re-housed by 13:15.
Subsequently, Solent Coastguard later requested that the Frank and Anne Wilkinson All Weather Lifeboat re-launch to assist the same yacht, which by that time was off the Bembridge Ledge and struggling to get to her home port of Langstone Harbour.
Rather than risk the situation getting worse, the yacht was taken under tow to the entrance of Langstone Harbour where she was handed over the Portsmouth RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat.
On her way back to Bembridge the Frank and Anne Wilkinson was re-tasked to locate an 11m Danish yacht with 2 crew onboard that Solent Coastguard were having problems communicating with.
Whilst in the process of doing this Solent Coastguard requested that the D-class Inshore Lifeboat be launched to locate and assist, if required, a swimmer reported as possibly being in difficulty south of St Helens Fort.
Initially as there were not enough crew available to man the ILB so the Frank and Anne Wilkinson was diverted to assist; but before they got very far the ILB was able to be launched and quickly located the swimmer safely ashore. The Norman Harvey therefore returned to Lane End and was recovered by 17:15.
In the meantime, the Frank and Anne Wilkinson returned to the Danish Yacht which they ascertained had mechanical problems so they set up a tow to Endeavour Quay, Portsmouth.
Once safely berthed, the Frank and Anne Wilkinson returned to Bembridge and was re-housed by 19:00.
They should make the owners of that pay for a wasted rescue to come to the same yacht twice in one day is unbelievable
And what do you suppose would happen if people thought they might be charged for calling for help?
That’s right. People in real difficulty won’t call for help and end up in serious trouble which, even if you are callous enough to ignore the lives of those in difficulty, will end up with a major rescue operation costing 1000’s of times to price of assistance from the RNLI.
A major rescue operation involving the Police, Coastguard, and other assets that are paid for out of taxes rather than out of charity donations.
What’s with the rescue of a yacht without power. It’s a sail boat.sail the thing.
It’s that time of year, lot more novelists will be along soon….let’s hope they don’t drive on the island, we have enough idiots already….