Urgent Pan Pan distress call prompts Bembridge RNLI lifeboat launch

The yacht, with two people onboard, had developed steering problems about three miles north of the lifeboat station's offshore boathouse.

It did not take long for the Frank and Anne Wilkinson lifeboat to reach the Celidh Mohr and establish a tow back to her home port of Chichester.
Arrangements were also made for the independent Hayling Rescue boat to meet them at the entrance of the harbour. After recovering the drogue anchor that had been deployed to keep the Celidh Mohr in a straight line behind the lifeboat, Hayling Rescue took over the tow for the final leg back to her mooring just inside the harbour entrance.

The Frank and Anne Wilkinson was on her way back to Bembridge when at around 1.10pm the UK Coastguard requested the launch of the D-class lifeboat, Norman Harvey, to assist a 20 foot open powerboat Bene with five people onboard that had broken down just off Forelands close to the Bembridge Ledge.

However, prior to the Norman Harvey being launched it was decided to re-task the crew of the Frank and Anne Wilkinson instead as she was, by that time, not far away. The volunteer crew arrived on scene at the same time as a passing Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) from Bembridge, named Water Pistol. Because the tide was dropping quickly and the Frank and Anne Wilkinson would not have been able to get into the harbour, the owner of the RIB kindly agreed to tow Bene back to Bembridge.

Having escorted them until they were clear of the Bembridge Ledge, the Frank and Anne Wilkinson then returned to the lifeboat station and was recovered by 2.30pm.

RNLI media contacts

• Mike Samuelson, Bembridge RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07785 593254 or [email protected]
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]
• Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825, [email protected]
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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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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