Ryde Inshore Rescue have launched into the darkness tonight (Bank Holiday Friday) to assist a vessel in the local vicinity.
Ryde Rescue 1 lifeboat is currently alongside a yacht at Ryde Sands, to the north of the entrance to Ryde Harbour.
Solent Coastguard tasked the volunteer search and rescue team sometime before 22:35.
It’s currently unclear what has prompted the late night response – the first shout in several weeks for the independent lifeboat station – and as to why the leisure craft is transiting during lockdown.
The lifeboat is currently moving west with the vessel, towards Ryde Pier.
No other resources appear to be involved in the incident.
UPDATE SATURDAY – The casualty vessel – a 32ft yacht – was towed to Town Quay, Cowes after suffering engine failure and running aground “somewhere between Spinnaker Tower and a church on the Island”, it has been confirmed.
The yacht was found less than half-a-mile off the shore in the middle of the Hovercraft channel to the East of Ryde Pier.
Due to the very narrow channel in Ryde Harbour at this time and still over 2 hours before high water it was decided to take the boat into Cowes.
It was soon established that the sole person on board (who also lived on-board) had to leave his safe mooring in Rye, East Sussex and was making his way to Newtown on the Island, after a stop in Littlehampton for fuel, as he’d heard it was a safe and free anchorage.
Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team were tasked to meet with the vessel in Cowes to offer stern words of advice, as well as assisting to secure the boat alongside the pontoon.
Ryde Rescue left Cowes at 00:40 to return to the boathouse at Appley.
A spokesperson for Ryde Inshore Rescue has said:
“Although this is what we do, and we go whenever we are called for regardless of the circumstances, this job could and should’ve been avoided if people would follow the advice we are all given and stay home in this pandemic, where the 7 crew persons who where involved in the call out should have been”.
Mmmmm lockdown oh I no il take my boat out and put people in danger cause I can do what I want……idiot
Spot on NIGE but think you should of used word prick not idiot hope he gets fined well
So we are all in the same boat, unless you have your own, then it’s ok is it !!!
Aren’t people reading this right the person involved lived on the boat. What could he/she do if they’ve been asked to move the.boat from rye
Yes He was ask d to leave BUT ONLY MOVE THE BOAT WHEN ITS SAFE TO DO SO!! As stated an idiot and put the crew of the rescue rib at risk as well . Should now be fined £60 for his idiotic efforts.
Hi Noddy, people here don’t read or understand facts, they just like to moan and be as nasty as possible…..welcome to the Isle of Wight!
If the bloke had died and been a smackhead the comments here would talk about him like he was an angel dropped out of the sky and now gone back to Heaven where he came from. Just saying.
Steve people are voting you down because your RIGHT
And its prolly all the sam bunch that click the red thumb But im sure it makes them sleep better
See there you go sad sacks