Two lifeboats involved in 'Fire on Yacht' alert

The 34 foot Cara had left Island Harbour in the River Medina when the Christchurch couple aboard were shocked to see what saw the cabin filled with what they perceived to be smoke. After alerting Solent Coastguards, the couple used their mainsail to proceed from off Gurnard to west of Beaulieu River.

When the two lifeboats arrived on the scene Cowes lifeboat ferried the Bembridge lifeboat mechanic over to the yacht who reported that the ‘smoke’ was in fact steam caused by escaping water from a broken pipe dropping on to the engine.

As Bembridge lifeboat left the scene to return to its station, Cowes crewman Alasdair Boden was put on board to take the Cara’s helm.

Making use of a furling genoa sail and a brisk westerly, he then proceeded to take the yacht to Cowes, without the need for a tow from the lifeboat. Throughout however the lifeboat stood by as a precaution.

The Cara was eventually sailed into Cowes harbour, where Newport coastguards were on hand to assist in bringing it alongside Trinity Landing.

Cowes lifeboat, which launched at 3.30 pm, returned to station at 4.35 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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