Bembridge RNLI’s inshore and All Weather Lifeboats, as well as Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguards, have been involved in 2 incidents off the East coast of the Isle of Wight this evening (Saturday).
The inshore lifeboat ‘Norman Harvey’ was launched at 17:15 at the request of Solent Coastguard to assist2 paddleboarders who had been reported as having difficulty getting back to the shore at St Helens.
The report had been of 2 females without lifejackets on just 1 board.
It did not take the ILB long to reach the area of the initial report, however, having not located anyone in difficulty it was agreed with Solent Coastguard that they should carry out a shoreline search from the harbour entrance to Lane End.
At 17:30 they spotted 2 females walking along the beach near the old Garland Club, who identified themselves as the paddleboarders.
After liaising with the local Coastguard Rescue Team, who were in attendance at Silver Sands, it was agreed that the Norman Harvey would transport the 2 women with their paddleboard back to St Helens Duver.
Having successfully linked the pair up with their husbands, the Norman Harvey was returning to Lane End when they were re-tasked to the locate and assist a small sailing dinghy that had been reported as being in difficulty between Yaverland and Whitecliff Bay.
Although conditions were quite bouncy offshore it did not take them long to reach Whitecliff Bay and onwards to the eastern end of Sandown Bay. With nothing found, they returned further offshore towards the West Princessa Cardinal buoy.
En-route a request was made for the All Weather Lifeboat to be launched to assist in the search. Paged at 18:15, she launched just 15 minutes later.
Initially the Tamar-class lifeboat was tasked to conduct a line search from the West Princessa to Culver and then step offshore. In parallel, the Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge and Ventnor started an ‘edge’ search of the base of Culver Cliffs.
Having completed further in-shore searches without seeing anything of concern, the Norman Harvey was stood down at 19:55 and returned to Lane End.
The Alfred Albert Williams meanwhile continued with her search offshore. Having checked on a report of ‘bubbles’ off Culver without finding anything untoward, she was stood down at 20:40.
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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In the case of the 2 women on the paddleboard, wouldn’t it have been more of a lesson learned if they had had to walk back to their husbands!
Possibly by getting them on-board, it gave the crew more time to issue “words of advice” at a time when the two women couldn’t simply walk away
I would never go in the sea around the island as its all polluted and there is peoples turds swimming around. Thats another problem.
I was the man in the dinghy, paddling around culver cliffs, all the way from Shanklin. I found no floating turds on route but I’m definitely a massive turd, so in one way your correct. For the island echo’s knowledge I wasn’t in trouble, I was just riding the waves in my boat for 2 hrs.
Doesnt look like that by the picture on screen