The volunteers of Cowes RNLI lifeboat amply demonstrated their commitment to saving lives at sea yesterday (Sunday) by attending a capsizing and 2 dismastings during Day 2 of Cowes Week.
The first emergency concerned a 16ft catamaran dinghy which capsized mid-Solent off East Cowes, resulting in its lone sailor clinging to 1 of the hulls.
The lifeboat responded just after midday, joining another rescue craft already on the scene. With the help of lifeboat crew member Andrew Stretton entering the water, the catamaran was eventually righted by the lifeboat and towed across the Solent to Calshot Spit.
Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team were standing by on the shoreline to care for the casualty, who was found to be a little cold but otherwise none the worse from his experience. However, the catamaran was found to have sprung a leak and was taking on water.
Then just after 14:00, the lifeboat was tasked to a 31ft racing yacht with 6 people aboard which had dismasted off Newtown. A committee boat was first on the scene and began to tow the yacht back to Cowes.
The lifeboat was called back to the Solent off Newtown for a second time later in the day because of a dismasting of a similar yacht. Lifeboat member Josh Matthews went aboard to clear the downed rigging and the yacht’s accompanying powerboat began to tow it to Hamble.
However, because some of the still-attached rigging was hampering progress, the lifeboat dashed back to Cowes to get bolt-cutters.
The lifeboat was out on service for a total of 4 hours.
No surprise there, Cowes week is another annoying event the island does.
Excatly how does Cowes Week annoy you, former islander? Not that I’m particularly interested.
its worth Nimbys remembering its a holiday resort Island and without events like this businesses and livelyhoods would suffer. Im not surprised youre a former islander
Lifeboats don’t carry bolt cutters? Nor, apparently, the ill-prepared yacht.
Gratefull for all our volunteers who use their time go out and help people and save lives , bless em all xx
Just go and look yourself and you’ll realise