Thanks to John from Bembridge RNLI for this latest news. Ed
The first of three calls commenced a busy six hours for the volunteer lifeboat crews at Bembridge.
A tow to harbour for angler
At 19.40 hours the inshore lifeboat was launched to assist an 18’ open angling boat with one person on board which appeared to be making slow headway off Bembridge lifeboat station.
Upon arriving with the casualty, the lifeboat crew were informed that the angler was rowing back to Bembridge harbour from Shanklin as his outboard was giving him problems.
Grateful for a tow back into the harbour the lifeboat had just returned to the boathouse and was being washed down when the second call for assistance was received.
False alarm
Solent Coastguard had been informed by a member of the public that it appeared two people were cut off by the sea on Ryde sands. The inshore lifeboat was immediately launched and proceeded to Ryde.
Finding the two men on the sands it transpired they were two anglers who were fishing and in no danger. Advice was given and the inshore lifeboat returned to Bembridge at 22.00 hours.
Fatigued yachtsman
Finally at 01.11 the pagers were going off again. The third call was to assist the 36m yacht “Miss Amelia” that was some 16 miles due south of Bembridge in the middle of the channel with one person on board.
The yacht had left Cherbourg at 06.30 in the morning and having been sailing for 18 hours the yachtsman was becoming fatigued whilst not making very good headway in a strong north easterly wind and moderately rough sea.
The Offshore lifeboat “Alfred Albert Williams” got alongside the yacht and transferred the lifeboat mechanic to the yacht who was able to repair the yacht’s engine. The yacht then motored to Bembridge being escorted by the lifeboat.
Image: © Bembridge RNLI
