Yarmouth RNLI’s Severn-class All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) was tasked to launch last night (Saturday) following reports that 2 yachts had become entangled while anchoring in Newtown Creek.
The volunteer crew headed east out of Yarmouth Harbour towards Newtown Creek shortly after being paged at 21:34.
Solent Coastguard had tasked the lifeboat as a result of a report that a 45ft yacht had dragged it’s anchor, collided with a smaller vessel and then become entangled.
Although there were lights onboard the casualty vessel, there was no response from anyone on board. However, the owner was soon located ashore and transferred back to their boat using the RNLI’s smaller ‘Y’ boat.
Once both yachts had been carefully checked for damage and all persons were safe and accounted for, the lifeboat left Newtown and returned to her berth at Yarmouth.
Earlier in the evening, flank station Cowes was tasked to launch when it was reported that persons were in the water off Gurnard.
Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team and The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team were tasked to respond at 20:08 as a result of a 999 call reporting a speedboat in difficulty and persons possibly in the water at Gurnard.
It was soon established that all persons had waded ashore and the vessel was being towed by Sea Start.
All search and rescue assets were stood down – including Cowes Lifeboat which didn’t make it to launch.
Using the RNLI to untangle yachts doesn’t seem to be an appropriate use of emergency services.
yachting seems to be a hobby with free AA membership.
Doesn’t say if they untangled the vessels, just checked for damage, if one was holed somewhere below the water line in the ‘collision’, it would probably be deemed an environmental and/or a navigational hazard then?
I agree, it also reads like this boat without anyone on board was ‘parked without the hand brake being properly applied’.