It’s action galore on the Solent for Cowes lifeboat
The crew of Cowes RNLI lifeboat had the rare experience of responding to not one but three emergencies when on Cowes Week safety patrol today (8 Aug).
8 August 2018
First alert involved the Spider Pig high performance sports yacht which had suffered a broken rudder off Gurnard, and was drifting towards Cowes Green. The boat, with five people aboard, was towed to Medina Yard, Cowes where it was craned ashore.
Next task for the lifeboat was to go to the aid of a small yacht, Josh, which had entangled its spinnaker. However, before the lifeboat arrived a passing boat came to Josh’s assistance, after which it was towed to safety by a race committee boat.
This released the lifeboat to be diverted to a 40 foot yacht, Jet, which had gone aground on the Bramble Bank at the mouth of Southampton Water. The yacht was duly dragged stern-first off the sand and towed by the lifeboat to East Cowes.
As a precaution, the lifeboat and yacht were accompanied across the Solent, as far as Prince Consort Buoy, by the RNLI’s Calshot lifeboat.
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.