Holed Yacht Gets Urgent Assistance from Cowes Lifeboat
A 34 foot yacht which sprang a leak after apparently hitting a rock between Gurnard and Thorness, led to Cowes RNLI lifeboat racing to its aid yesterday (Saturday) evening.
After the holing the yacht, with five people aboard, attempted to make its way across the Solent back to its home port of Hamble. As water gushed through the damaged hull the lifeboat was duly summoned by Solent Coastguards, and reached the yacht just off Calshot Spit.
“On our arrival it became clear, after raising the floor, there was an urgent need to put aboard our pump,” said the lifeboat helm, Jason Hughes.
“The pumping must have lasted for about half an hour, during which time we towed the yacht to Hamble Point Marina; there it was met by Hamble harbour master and a Coastguard rescue team, and was quickly lifted out of the water.”
The lifeboat had launched at 6.45 pm and returned to station at 9.30 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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