Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
23rd June 2014
Selsey Lifeboat Launches to Yacht Aground on the Mixon Reef
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Selsey RNLI volunteer Lifeboat crew were paged at 2.42 p.m. on Monday 23rd June 2014. Solent Coastguard had received a Pan Pan call from the 34-foot yacht 'Ewok' reporting that they had run aground.
'Ewok', with two persons on board, had run aground on the Mixon Reef 1.2 miles south of the Lifeboat station. The 'D' class Inshore Lifeboat 'Betty and Thomas Moore' launched at 2.47 p.m. and were on scene with the 'Ewok' at 2.56 p.m. The weather on scene was calm and sunny with a rising tide.
The Helmsman decided to establish a tow with the yacht and hold the bow to the tide until the tide had sufficiently risen. Crewman John Reeves was transferred to the 'Ewok' to help rig the tow and give advice.
At 3.25 p.m. the yacht started to bounce on the bottom but, rather than try to tow across the rocks and possibly damage the keel, the helmsman kept the inshore boat just holding the 'Ewok'. The skipper decided to go against advice, put his boat in gear and steamed off the reef under his own power. When both vessels were clear of the reef the skipper of the yacht checked for damage and water ingress.
At 3.42 p.m., with no damage or water ingress found, 'Ewok' continued their passage from Brighton to the Solent. The Inshore Lifeboat recovered their crewman and was released by Solent Coastguard to return to station arriving back at 3.47 p.m. and rehousing straight away.
CREW: Rob Archibald (Helmsman), James Albery, John Reeves.