The activation of an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) sparked a call out for Cowes RNLI and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team yesterday lunchtime (Sunday).
Solent Coastguard picked up the distress call in the vicinity of the River Medina at around 12:50 resulting in the mobilisation of Coastguard Officers from Ventnor. It was just gone 13:15 that Cowes RNLI lifeboat was requested to join in the search efforts.
Initially crews searched the Stag Lane area between Newport and Cowes, but it wasn’t long until the signal was pinpointed using Direction Finding to the area of Folly Lane, Whippingham. The EPIRB was found in a plastic bag on board a motor yacht moored opposite the Folly Inn pub.
In a bid to find the vessel’s owner, Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team and volunteers from Cowes Lifeboat went into the pub and used a tannoy system to call out for owner of the motor vessel to make themselves known.
HM Coastguard spoke with the vessel owner and issued safety advice.
In other news… Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team and Ryde Inshore Rescue were tasked to reports of 2 people in the water near Puckpool yesterday evening.
Thankfully, the incident was deemed a false alarm with all persons safe and well.
