A 21ft fishing boat reported to be taking on water, and without power, led to Cowes RNLI lifeboat racing westwards to its aid this evening (Wednesday).
The Nelly T – with a Newport man on board – was situated in Thorness Bay when the problem occurred. Apparently when the skipper ran his engine water gushed into the boat. He temporarily turned the engine off and used a hand-bilge pump.
Eventually he ran out of fuel and was drifting westwards, until he dropped his anchor.
After the lifeboat put its own pump on the Nelly T it was eventually towed to Town Quay, Cowes, where it was met by Newport Coastguard Initial Response Team.
Cowes lifeboat, which was launched at 18:54, returned to station at 20:20.
