Selsey RNLI lifeboats assist yacht aground
UK Coastguard requested the launch of the Selsey all- weather lifeboat after the skipper of the 22ft yacht Lazy Bear made an emergency call via mobile phone saying they had run aground and believed they were somewhere off Selsey Bill.
As the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was preparing to launch the coxswain could see the yacht aground on the Mixon reef a Shingle and rock reef approximately 1.5 miles off Selsey and decided the inshore lifeboat (ILB) would be needed to get close to their position. Both lifeboats launched at 6.25pm on Saturday 31 March with the ILB heading straight to the yacht and the ALB going to a position in deeper water ready to take the tow off the ILB.
The weather on scene was wind south west force 2-3 sea state slight in overcast sky. When the ILB arrived on scene they transferred a lifeboat crewman to the yacht to rig a tow and the yacht was successfully towed off the reef and headed out to deeper water where the ALB was waiting.
The two people aboard the Lazy Bear were cold and feeling unwell so after a tow was established between the ALB and the yacht they were transferred to the ALB and a lifeboat crewman went aboard the yacht. The ILB was released to return to station at 7.20pm and the ALB towed the Lazy Bear towards Chichester harbour.
The main tow from the ALB being attached to the yacht Credit: RNLI/Max Gilligan
The harbour was reached at 9.10pm where the skipper of the yacht and another lifeboat crewman were transferred to the yacht. The tow was then dropped and the vessel made way into Sparkes marina under its own power with the ALB following.
The yacht was safely berthed alongside at 9.40pm. The ALB departed Sparkes at 10.22pm and returned to station at 11.01pm and was rehoused refuelled and made ready for service by 12.05am Sunday morning. The Crews of the lifeboats today were ALB… Coxswain Martin Rudwick 2nd Coxswain Geoff Mellett, Mechanic Phil Pitham, Max Gilligan, Will Moir, Harry Emmence. ILB… Helmsman James Albrey, Craig Sergeant and Sam Troughton-Smith.
