A busy few days for Bembridge RNLI's all-weather Lifeboat

The first was at 9.40pm on Saturday 30 September when the Alfred Albert Williams (Tamar 16-17) was launched at the request of UK Coastguard to assist a 39 foot, 17 ton sailing yacht Rosalyn with three crew onboard. One of the crew was feeling unwell and the engine had failed 5nm NE of Bembridge whilst on passage from Lowestoft to South Wales.

The Alfred Albert Williams was on scene by 9.58pm and having quickly concluded that a repair was not possible, established a tow to Portsmouth. Having successfully berthed Rosalyn at Gosport Marina (Haslar Marina was full) by just after midnight, the Alfred Albert Williams returned Bembridge and was recovered by 1am.

The second was at around 4.50pm on Tuesday 3 October when the Alfred Albert Williams was launched at the request of UK Coastguard to assist the 30 foot sailing yacht Anigh Falls with three crew and a dog onboard whose engine had failed and was possibly taking in some water 6nm E of Bembridge.

The Alfred Albert Williams was on scene by 5.10 pm and having transferred the mechanic and another member of the crew to the Anigh Falls it was quickly ascertained that although there was no significant ingress of water to worry about, the engine could not be repaired so a tow to Chichester Harbour was established.

A rendezvous at the entrance to Chichester Harbour with Hayling Island RNLI's Atlantic 85 was arranged and having handed Anigh Falls over at just after 6pm, the Alfred Albert Williams returned Bembridge and was recovered by 6.40pm.

The third was at around 9.43pm on Wednesday 4 October when the Alfred Albert Williams was launched at the request of UK Coastguard to assist (again) the 39 foot, 17 ton sailing yacht Rosalyn with three crew onboard whose engine had again failed. This time they were 2.2nm SE of Bembridge having set off for South Wales from Portsmouth earlier in the day and subsequently turned back off St Catherine's Point when the wind had increased.

The Alfred Albert Williams was on scene by 9.48pm and having decided that a temporary repair was impractical, established a tow to Bembridge Harbour. Having successfully berthed Rosalyn on the visitor's pontoon by 11.00pm, the Alfred Albert Williams returned to the offshore boathouse and was recovered by just after 11.30pm.

Steve Simmonds, Coxswain Bembridge RNLI commented 'Wednesday evening's repeat call out to Rosalyn was a bit 'déjà vu' and I felt a bit sorry for the skipper who had left Portsmouth earlier in the day having had his engine checked over earlier in the week. Conditions off St Catherine's Point would not have been nice, so he did the right thing and turned back.'

RNLI media contacts

· Mike Samuelson, Bembridge RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07785 593254 or [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

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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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.