Selsey inshore lifeboat (ILB) Betty and Thomas Moore launched at 9.21am to investigate a report from a passing boat of the sighting of an unoccupied dinghy drifting in the Medmerry Bank area.
The ILB was on scene at 9.35am approximately two and a half miles southwest of Selsey Bill but could not find a dinghy of any description.
As a consequence the lifeboat crew hailed a local fishing boat working close by and their crew explained that they had tried to recover the dinghy but it was in such poor condition that it broke up and sank.
The crew of the fishing boat assured the ILB crew that in their opinion the dinghy had been derelict for some time and that there was no sign of any recent occupancy. Nevertheless as a precaution the lifeboat crew carried out an organised search of the area but nothing was found.
With search conditions and visibility very good Solent Coastguard was happy to release the lifeboat at 10.06am to return to station. Arriving back at 10.19am the Betty and Thomas Moore was recovered straight away and once again made ready for service by 10.50am.
CREW: C.Pullenger (Helmsman), S.Troughton-Smith, A.Lee.
WIND: East-northeast 2. SEA: Smooth. WEATHER: Sunny.