Cowes Lifeboat Pulls Yacht Out of Trouble
Shallow water near the entrance to Southampton Water proved a real challenge for both a yacht and a harbour launch this evening – resulting in a request for Cowes RNLI lifeboat to provide much-needed help.
The yacht, the Hebe, with three people aboard, had gone aground on the south-west tip of the Bramble Bank at the mouth of Southampton Water. Furthermore, the combination of rising tide and wind was pushing the boat further and further on to the unforgiving bank.
Although a Southampton harbour launch arrived in the vicinity, its draught proved just too deep to allow it to get close enough to tow the yacht to safety; so the Cowes Atlantic 85 RIB Sheena Louise was tasked to cross the Solent to perform the task.
Very soon the yacht was floating free again, enabling it to continue on its course from Southampton to East Cowes.
The lifeboat, which had launched at 6.10 pm, returned just over 30 minutes later to the station – where a fresh crew was waiting to go on a planned training exercise.
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 146,000 lives.
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