The volunteer crew of Bembridge RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat launched down the slipway at the crack of dawn this morning (Sunday) to go to the assistance of a 33ft yacht off the Isle of Wight.
Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the Tamar-class lifeboat at just before 05:00 following reports that the yacht, which was sailing from the Channel Islands to Langstone, had damaged its steering around 10 nautical miles South of Ventnor.
Bembridge Lifeboat was on scene within 30 minutes and quickly established a tow before slowly heading north towards Langstone Harbour at just 6 knots.
Amazingly, whilst heading towards the Solent, the lifeboat was given an escort by a pod of around 20 dolphins.
As there was insufficient water for the ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ to safely make Southsea Marina, the tow was handed over to Portsmouth RNLI’s inshore lifeboat south of the entrance to Langstone.
The ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ ALB was back on station at Bembridge by 08:10.
