Yesterday lunchtime Coastguards at the National Maritime Operations Centre received a VHF radio broadcast from a yacht which had seen a dinghy capsize in Southampton water. It had been spotted at approximately 12.20pm from Red Funnel’s vehicle ferry, Red Eagle, which was on route from Southampton to East Cowes.
The ferry stopped and launched its rescue boat. It was shortly joined by ABP’s Southampton Patrol launch and the Hamble Lifeboat.
Red Eagle’s rescue boat picked up one person from the dinghy and transferred them to the Southampton Patrol Boat, which picked up the other two. Red Eagle then continued its journey to East Cowes, arriving approximately 30 minutes behind schedule.
The three people were taken to Netley Sailing Club and checked by an ambulance crew and found to be cold but uninjured.
Red Funnel say they’d like to thank the Master and his crew who acted swiftly and professionally.
A spokesperson for the company told OnTheWight,
“They are highly trained and regularly practise man over board drills so are well-placed to assist in such incidents. Red Funnel would also like to pass on its best wishes to the three sailors who were rescued.”
Image: © With kind permission of Gus McKechnie
