An elderly sailor located on a boat just 100m off the shore at Ryde is the subject of another operation involving HM Coastguard this morning (Friday) – for the 2nd time this week.
Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team and Bembridge RNLI lifeboat are on scene at Appley where a vessel has gone aground, then to anchor, just off the beach. The vessel’s engine has been engaged but the boat is going around in circles as it is still anchored to the seabed.
At the same time, the skipper of the ‘Bianca Maria’ has been seen hanging over the side without a lifejacket, sparking concerns for his safety.
On Wednesday, emergency services spent over 5 hours dealing with the same sailor and his boat at Osborne Bay, near East Cowes. The boat went aground on the rocks and was eventually towed to Cowes Harbour, with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Marine Unit assisting with the incident.
Now, Coastguard Rescue Officers have donned water rescue gear and are standing by as the lifeboat crew approach the vessel using the All Weather Lifeboat’s daughter craft, the Y-boat.
Island Echo is told that the casualty vessel was spotted sailing close to the shore near Ryde Harbour at just before 21:00 last night, meaning minimal progress has been made in the 13 hours that have followed.
It’s said that the man is en-route to Plymouth, but in 2 days has only managed to travel a few miles down the coast – in the wrong direction.
UPDATE – The vessel has been successfully towed to Portsmouth Habour, where the King’s Harbour Master will inspect the vessel.
The incident has been brought to a close for Island-based teams.
Let him rattle at it because he is not doing any harm. He’ll call for help if he needs it.
If he is going to Plymouth he has to navigate round a few challenges-Portland Bill can be exciting in the wrong tide / wind conditions
Omg I hope he decides to stay close to home. It would be awful if he ended up somewhere he can’t get help in time if he needs assistance. Awful if anything happened to him . He might have dementia.
Wow! Talk about jumping to conclusions. Maybe he is carrying a highly contagious fungal disease and he might infect the whole world.
Or maybe he has 3 tons of cocaine on board and it’s poor weight distribution caused the boat to go round and round in circles.
I am fed up with all members of the RNLI, S & R etc and Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance etc having to go out to people such as this elderly man, others who get stuck in the mud, those who get stranded by the tide and all manner of the result of people not taking preventative measures before they have to then rely on the rescuers because they didn’t check the tide times, etc etc. GRRRRRRR
Yes indeed. Be far better if people never got into trouble or had accidents because then we could do away with the emergency services and save a fortune. Obviously, the solution is for everyone to stay at home and do nothing that could possibly get them in a bit of bother. Got that everyone?
I tell you why don’t you go and help him get to his destination. Why do you think that we have the RNLI, S & R etc and Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance etc. wake up
first time could be considered a mistake – second time is on purpose – if this guy cannot manage his boat, then he deserves to be billed for the time and effort of providing this assistance and then the boat impounded until he can demonstrate that he is actually fit to sail it.
No doubt we should apply the same approach to all those who can’t manage their cars, e-scooters, finances, diet …
Maybe islander should be impounded until he/she can write a sensible comment.
If it’s not old people causing havoc on the rds it’s on the high seas, I’m just glad I’m not stuck behind him doing 20mph
Yon haven’t got the skills to row a boat.
Obviously not your year to use the only family braincell, i know it is shocking but you will probably get old as well.
Mayby I will Reg but if I do I’ll hang those beloved keys up and stop being a risk to other younger, more in control and faster drivers, think about it will you.
Poor fellow sounds a bit like fun must be really really bored or anything
#wordsalad
Around and around and up and down we go again
No wonder he hasn’t got far if he’s still got his anchor dropped.
Really? Should he be allowed to sail, surely there is a law against people not fit to steer a boat he could cause absolute havoc if a larger vessel got near him. He should have been brought ashore and assessed as to his mental capabilities.
You could say the same for people who drive 4×4 and cannot reverse all the idiots we have in this area on jet skies. I think if you have a yacht or motor launch you should have some qualifications. the only thing you need today even if you have a million-pound motor boat is a licence to operate the radio if you have one. When I had my yacht I took a course.