Ryde Inshore Rescue were called to assist a small boat named ‘Wizard’ off the coast of Seaview yesterday evening (Tuesday).
The lifeboat was launched at the request of Solent Coastguard at around 18:00.
Volunteer lifeboat crewmen made best speed to the 26ft casualty vessel, which had fouled a propeller and had drifted onto a shingle bank.
Having ascertained that the skipper was uninjured and there were no other issues to report, a tow was established and the vessel was taken to Camber Dock in Portsmouth.
When ‘Wizard’ was safely tied alongside in Portsmouth Harbour, a Ryde Inshore Rescue crewmen went into the water with a face mask and knife to try and free the rope. Once successfully done and the fishing boat had tested his engine and propeller were all working he was able to make his own way back to his moorings in the north of the harbour.
The Ryde Inshore Rescue crew were remunerated for their efforts with some of the fishing boat’s fresh catch.
Once released from the incident with Wizard, Solent Coastguard re-tasked Ryde Rescue 1 a broken down jet ski off the North Sturbridge Bouy that was at risk of drifting into the main shipping channel.
Once on scene with the jet ski the owner had already call Seastart to tow the pleasure craft back home. The lifeboat waited alongside for Seastart to arrive before heading back to Appley station at 20:30.
