Bembridge RNLI Lifeboat launched to locate and assist a 32ft sailing boat yesterday evening (Sunday).
The Tamar-class ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) was launched at the request of Solent Coastguard at just before 18:00.
The casualty vessel’s engine was reported to have broken down and the skipper was unable to manoeuvre the boat under sail in the light airs.
The location was vague as the yacht’s portable GPS had run out of power before the full position had been registered. There was then something of a wild goose chase as the Lifeboat and her volunteer crew attempted to locate the ‘Green Pepper’, which was being sailed single handed by a Frenchman.
The search was not helped by the fact that for some unknown reason only Solent Coastguard was able to communicate with the yacht on Ch 67. Nor was it helped by the sailor mistaking the Nab Tower for St Helens Fort.
Although at one stage it was beginning to look like a hoax, the yacht was eventually located just to the south west of Selsey. The search area was narrowed when the Frenchman managed to take a bearing on the cruise ship ‘Arcadia’ when it came within a couple of miles of the yacht.
Once located, ‘Green Pepper’ was taken under tow towards Chichester Harbour where Bembridge Lifeboat rendezvoused with Hayling Island RNLI’s Atlantic 85 and transferred the tow.
The ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ returned to Bembridge and was recovered by 21:45.
