Selsey all weather lifeboat,"Voluntary worker", launched at 1900hrs to assist in the recovery of the vessel, "Celtic Warrior", which had run aground West of the Selsey coastguard station. The persons aboard the yacht were not the rightful owners and had left the scene. Selseys’ ILB "Peter Cornish" which had also been tasked to the incident, arrived on scene at 1850hrs, skillfully negotiated the confused waters close inshore and successfully towed the stricken vessel into deeper water with two coastguard team members aboard the yacht.
The tow was passed to "Voluntary Worker" at 1920hrs and a course set for Itchenor Jetty on the East side of Chichester Harbour, arriving at 2135 hrs.
The craft was handed over to the Sussex police for further investigation, the four persons who decamped from the scene earlier were apprehended and arrested by the police.
"Voluntary Worker" left Itchenor at 2215hrs and returned to station at 2320hrs. She was washed down, re-fuelled and ready for service at 2350hrs.
CREW: W.Pledger (Coxswain), D.Lamdin (2nd Coxswain), G.Mellett (Mechanic), M.Gilligan, P.Pitham, Z.Belcher.
WIND: NW-F2/3. SEA: Moderate. WEATHER: Dry and clear