A motor yacht aground on Bembridge Ledge prompted a callout for members of Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Teams this evening (Saturday).
HM Coastguard was alerted to the vessel in difficulty on the notorious stretch of rocks at approximately 18:25. Both rescue teams were tasked to assist those on board the boat and assess their wellbeing.
Donning their drysuits, members of Ventnor CRT made their way on foot across the rocky shoreline to the boat’s position to check on the occupants of the cruiser and quickly established that at least 1 person on board would need to be returned to shore rather than waiting on board for the vessel to refloat on the incoming tide.
Further assessments indicated that the person would need to be carried to shore on a stretcher as the nature of the shoreline would make it impossible for them to traverse it.
A stretcher was taken to the vessel and in the meantime, Bembridge RNLI was tasked to launch its Inshore Lifeboat. The lifeboat crew, arriving on the scene in minutes, carefully beached on nearby rocks.
It was then decided to recover all 3 people on board back to the Inshore Lifeboat Station to wait for the tide to refloat the vessel. Prior to leaving, they ensured that the anchor was appropriately deployed.
After further discussions ashore, it was agreed that all 3 crew of the casualty vessel would make their own way back home to Hayling Island and that both Bembridge Lifeboats would launch at around midnight to recover the casualty vessel with the All Weather Lifeboat then towing the cuirser to Chichester.
The lifeboat crew is expected to finish their mission by 03:30 tomorrow morning.
If you or someone else is in difficulty on the coast or at sea, or if you spot what you think may be unexploded ordnance, then dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Further safety information can be found at https://coastguardsafety.campaign.gov.uk/.
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Don’t these so called sailors read charts of where there are ledges and sandbanks
Way hay I have the gear but I don’t really know what to do. Living the dream.
Just like the roads i hope there is a recovery fee unless they have AA relay.
I trust the lifeboat will claim salvage. No excuse for runnng aground on well-charted, well-marked ledge in broad daylight.
Causualty, is that what you call idiots now got all the gear and no idea!
“ensured that the anchor was appropriately deployed” Ensured that the boat was safely anchored.