Busy afternoon/evening on Sunday for Bembridge RNLI's All-Weather Lifeboat

The first time at 12.50 pm at the request of UK (Solent) Coastguard to assist an 11m motor cruiser with 4 crew on board that had reported having a rope around her propeller. Although the initial location given by the casualty vessel to the Coastguard turned out to be incorrect, it did not take them long to locate the motor cruiser once they had used the Direction Finding facility on the Tamar to track her down.

In the event it turned out that the rope was in fact around the rudder rather that the prop but it still meant that she was unable to get back to Langstone Harbour without help. Having transferred a member of the Lifeboat crew to the casualty vessel they took her under tow (using a drogue to keep the tow in line) to the fuel berth at Southsea Marina. On completion they returned to Bembridge and were recovered by 3.15pm. Conditions were pretty benign.

RNLB Alfred Albert Williams (Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17) was launched a second time at 5.45 pm at the request of UK (Solent) Coastguard to assist a 40 foot charter angling boat with 7 people on board that had suffered steering failure mid-Solent between Bembridge and Chichester. Hayling Island RNLI's Atlantic 85 (RNLB Derrick Battle B-829) was already on scene but conditions had deteriorated since earlier in the day (South Westerly Force 6 increasing to Force 7) so they had requested assistance of Bembridge's larger All-Weather Lifeboat.

Two lifeboat crew (one from the Alfred Albert Williams and one from the Derrick Battle) were put onboard the angling boat and a tow was established to Portsmouth (Gosport Marina). The Derrick Battle meanwhile returned to Hayling Island RNLI's boathouse to exchange a crew member. The initial tow parted when the bollard on the bow of the casualty vessel pulled out, and before it could be re-establish, the skipper decided that as he had power (although only limited steering) he would make his own way into Portsmouth Harbour escorted by the two lifeboats who helped him to berth in Gosport where they were met by Hillhead Coastguard Rescue Team and an Ambulance. Once the angling boat was safely alongside, both lifeboats headed back to their respective Stations. The Alfred Albert Williams was recovered by 9.30 pm. A windy, wet and testing shout!

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.