The crew of Cowes RNLI lifeboat experienced a shout full of frustration and challenge when they were alerted by Solent Coastguard to a speed boat in trouble during the early hours of this morning (Sunday).
Launching at 01:50, the volunteer life-savers were initially misdirected to the Folly area of the River Medina but then told the casualty boat was in fact further east in Wootton Creek. Once in the creek, 2 men were found aboard the 14ft Hustler with something wrapped around its propeller.
Mark Harker, lifeboat helm said:
“We thought it must be a rope causing the problem, but instead found it was an electric cable extending from the shore to a nearby moored empty yacht, and was apparently live.
“It clearly presented a challenge, to say the least, but after quite a struggle – and thankfully with no electric shocks – we managed to untangle the cable, which had also become twisted.”
The stricken boat’s crew disclosed that earlier, after leaving The Sloop Inn with the intention of returning to their base in Portsmouth Harbour, they had also gone aground.
The Hustler was towed to the Royal Victoria Yacht Club’s pontoon at Fishbourne, where the men were strongly advised to not proceed on to Portsmouth until daylight.
The lifeboat returned to station at 03:15, where Mark said the experience had provided the crew with a salutary lesson.
“Never assume that a line fouling a boat’s propeller is just a rope!”
