Many thanks to Tony Robson for sending through this report from the Freshwater Lifeboat. If you’d like to share your experiences of the day, do let us know. Ed
Freshwater Lifeboat had a very busy day on a day, where moderate wind conditions and seas made sailing interesting but tricky at times.
We used two boats and three crews to provide cover from the start of the event until the end of our last shout at 3pm. Freshwater Lifeboat launched before 6am and were on standby at The Needles before the first of the fleet arrived.
In all seven incidents were attended including the rescue of two persons from the water after their guard rail broke. The day started quietly with a request to check the area that two buoyancy aids had been found floating, but quickly escalated with task after task stretching the available lifeboats as the fleet arrived at the Needles.
Men Over Board
We attended Yacht VAMONOS with steering failure followed by a tri-maran stuck on the shingles bank and then were well placed to reach the two MOBs from the yacht RED MACHINE who had gone overboard when their guard rail failed.
They were out of the water within a minute or so of the MOB call and then landed at Yarmouth to dry their clothes.
Crash Bang Wallop
A quick stop to refuel and straight back out to Yacht PRESTO in collision with Yacht QUEST. PRESTO was dis-masted and reported a casualty with a lacerated thumb. PRESTO was towed back to Yarmouth and the casualty left with the coastguard.
On Tow
Freshwater Lifeboat proceeded back to Freshwater Bay to change crew and en route were tasked to investigate a flotation device with flashing light reported in the water off Sun Corner. Nothing found, the crew chanegover completed and 30 minutes later, the Lifeboat was conned by The Berry B, onto a 60′ wooden gaff rigged ketch with a broken spar and spinnaker round steering and propeller drifting off Atherfield.
It was too deep to anchor and no other boat available to take a tow, so the SAMPHIRE was taken in tow by the Lifeboat back to Yarmouth. This long tow ended in a tricky operation to land this beautiful yacht, which was more than twice the length of the lifeboat and made entirely of wood, gently against the harbour wall.
Freshwater Lifeboat was released at 3pm and recovered and back on standby by 4:30pm. A long and busy day!
