Cowes RNLI lifeboat launched to aid in the search for 2 sailors who had gone overboard from a yacht on the Solent this afternoon (Sunday).
The volunteer crew were tasked by Solent Coastguard at 12:36 – for the first time in 23 days – following reports of 2 persons in the water to the north east of Cowes.
Very quickly a search got underway with the assistance of Calshot RNLI, Gosport Independent Lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter.
After completing just 1 of 14 planned search legs Solent Coastguard stood rescue units down as the 2 sailors were spotted by a racing committee boat and safely recovered.
At the other end of the Solent, Yarmouth RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat was called into action shortly before 10:10 this morning.
Solent Coastguard requested that the lifeboat crew investigate a report of a drifting submerged dinghy located somewhere north west of Yarmouth Harbour.
The lifeboat commenced down tide searches from the reported position and, with help from motor vessel Morvoren, located the dinghy 2.2 nautical miles east north east of the harbour.
The stricken dinghy was towed back to Yarmouth and put ashore with the assistance of The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team.
Yesterday morning (Saturday) at 11:58, Solent Coastguard requested the Yarmouth lifeboat to launch in response to a Mayday call from a dismasted sailing yacht. The 9m yacht Mako – with 6 crew on board – lost her mast approximately 2.4 nautical miles north of The Needles.
Once on scene an RNLI crew member was put aboard Mako to assist in the safe stowage of the mast. The lifeboat then began to escort the casualty back to Yarmouth and just off Hurst Point a tow was established to increase the speed of the passage against an ebb tide. The lifeboat returned to her station in the harbour by 14:55.
