A mayday alert from a French vessel in the English Channel sparked a response from Bembridge RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter this afternoon (Friday).
Solent Coastguard requested the launch of Bembridge’s All Weather Lifeboat at around 16:55 to help investigate a mayday call that had been picked up from the 11m French training yacht ‘TY DJOU’ to the South East of St Catherine’s Point.
The Alfred Albert Williams lifeboat launched at around 17:05 and headed South to the position that the mayday alert had given. A number of other vessels and the Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent also made speed to the area.
However, emergency teams were stood down when it transpired that the alert had been sent in error and the yacht, which set off from Cowes earlier today, was in no danger.
Bembridge’s volunteer lifeboat crew returned to Bembridge and rehoused by 18:15.
