This in from Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat, in their own words. Ed
The Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat was tasked by the Solent Coastguard to three incidents during the Round the Island race in south westerly gales of force six.
Lucky escape for crew
To a 45 ft Yacht called Polly’s Kettle at 12.42 pm that snapped its mast one mile of Ventnor with seven people on board, with its rigging, mast and sails in the water.
The mast and rigging had to be cut away so the yacht could make its own way back to The Hamble, all on board were well and very lucky they did not get hit by the mast.
Severe head injury
The Second was to a Swan 44 at 13.29, three miles of Shanklin with a crew member with a severe head injury who had to be air lifted off to hospital by the Coastguard helicopter.
Severe eye injury
The third at 13.50 was to another yacht called Galataea one mile off Ventnor with and elderly gentlemen with a severe eye injury, after a collision with a tackle block.
He and his partner were transferred to Ventnor Haven where paramedics and the Ventnor Coastguard were waiting.
£180 fuel used
It certainly was a busy day not the busiest we have had, and we used over £180 of fuel.
And with bad sea conditions there were some very unusual sites with boats nearly being blown over.
Sunday callout
On Sunday (1 July) at 12.47 we were tasked by the Coastguard to a 23ft Yacht that had run aground on Bembridge Ledge with one person on board.
There was no hull damage and his anchor was set out, so on the rising tide he could be pulled off.
