Holed yacht sparks Cowes lifeboat call-out
A high performance yacht that was holed and in danger of sinking led to Cowes RNLI lifeboat racing across the Solent this afternoon.
The 22 foot International Tempest with two men aboard was reported to have been holed near the Bramble Bank at the entrance of Southampton Water.
When the lifeboat arrived on the scene the yacht was already under tow by the RIB Red Abigail, with the yacht’s crew sitting on the yacht’s transom to lift the bow as much as possible above the water.
Red Abigail continued with the tow across the Solent, escorted throughout by Cowes lifeboat which had taken its pump as a precaution
Eventually the Tempest was taken to Shepards Wharf Marine where it was speedily lifted on to the shore.
The lifeboat, which was launched at 2.55 pm returned to station at 3.30 pm.
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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 146,000 lives.
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