A newly-wed couple were part of the crew of Cowes lifeboat when it launched to go to the aid of a windsurfer who was overcome by challenging conditions in the Solent yesterday evening.
After the call came from Solent Coastguard that a shore-watcher had reported seeing a windsurfer clinging to his board, the four-person crew in the launched lifeboat included Alasdair Boden and his new wife, Heather, both well established lifeboat members before their recent marriage.
The windsurfer was first spotted in real trouble some 200 metres from Gurnard Sailing Club. Because of a strong ebb tide and a Force 5 south-westerly it was clear he was helpless to prevent being swept further westwards.
The lifeboat, with Alasdair at the helm,. launched just after 18:00. It soon arrived in the area, and despite the choppy conditions the crew quickly located the man, by then half a mile from the first sighting. He and his board were taken aboard the lifeboat and were delivered back to Gurnard beach.
