A yacht that ran aground at Whitecliff Bay this morning (Wednesday) was pulled clear without damage thanks to the efforts of both Bembridge RNLI lifeboats.
The All Weather Lifeboat ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ was tasked to launch at the request of Solent Coastguard at 10:13 to assist a 26ft, 3.5t yacht that had run aground in Whitecliff Bay after her anchor chain parted overnight. The yacht, which had one person on board, had become high and dry close to the high water mark.
Having deployed the ALB’s on board Y boat and established that the casualty vessel had not sustained any damage – which was quite surprising given the number of rocks in the area – it was decided to call for the Inshore Lifeboat to be launched to assist.
Once on scene, the D-Class ‘Norman Harvey’ dropped a crew member off onto the ashore and, working in conjunction with the Alfred Albert Williams, they managed to successfully pull the casualty vessel off the beach.
Bembridge’s ALB towed the yacht to the nearby lifeboat station before transferring the tow over to the Norman Harvey. The undamaged yacht was towed into Bembridge Harbour.
