Coastguard Rescue Teams and both RNLI and Independent lifeboats stationed around the coast of the Isle of Wight were in action yesterday (Saturday) for Round the Island Race 2019.
Bembridge RNLI’s All-Weather Lifeboat launched at 11:00 to be on the water and ready to assist any competitors in difficulty – an almost certainty with 1,200 vessels taking part in the annual race.
Other lifeboats such as Yarmouth RNLI, Freshwater Independent Lifeboat, Cowes RNLI and Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat followed suite, alongside mainland counterparts.
With a fairly light wind making for a slow race there was very little dramatic action on the water but Bembridge’s ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ was tasked to assist 2 yachts throughout the day.
The first, at 14:37 off Brighstone, involved a 11m monohull yacht with 4 crew onboard that was caught on a pot line. Having initially helped the yacht cut the line, the Bembridge Lifeboat crew then launched the Y boat to help untangle the line from around the yacht’s rudder.
The second incident, at around 15:37, was in support of Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat and involved checking over a male crew member of a 26ft monohull yacht with 4 crew onboard who had been hit on the head by the boom. 2 of the Alfred Albert William’s crew were transferred by Sandown’s RIB to the yacht off of Castlehaven, Ventnor. After satisfying themselves that the casualty was ok, the crew were transferred back to the All Weather Lifeboat.
Earlier in the day, Calshot RNLI was tasked to a Mayday call after a sailor sustained a head injury. Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team were tasked to meet the lifeboat at Trinity Landing in Cowes,where the casualty was stretchered off and into an awaiting ambulance.
A vessel with engine failure drifting in Sandown Bay prompted a tasking for both Sandown Lifeboat and Ventnor CRT. The lifeboat was tasked to locate vessel, which decided to sail back to Cowes.
