AWL 47-001 ‘City of London’ launched at 1341 hrs to assist the Selsey ILB, which was struggling to search for a possible missing kite boarder reported in difficulty 600 yards offshore from Pagham Harbour.
The ILB had been launched approximately 15 minutes earlier and had arrived on scene to find a board and kite but no sign of the casualty. Shortly after launching at 1342 hrs the casualty was reported safe ashore. All search units were stood down at this time. The ‘City of London’ continued to meet up with the ILB as conditions were at its upper most limits of operation. Both boats returned to station together, arriving back at 1418 hrs but due to conditions neither boat could recover back into their station. Eventually the ILB recovered at 1555 hrs and the ‘City of London’ at 1710.hrs. The ‘City of London’ was made ready for service at 1745 hrs.
CREW: Martin Rudwick (Coxswain), Willy Pledger (2nd Coxswain), Geoff Mellett (Mechanic), Max Gilligan, James Albery, Sacha Borg.
WIND: SW F7/8. SEA: Moderate. WEATHER: Sunny.