Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
28th July 2014
Selsey RNLI Lifeboat Launches to Assist Disabled Yacht
|
|
|
|
At 7.20 p.m. on Monday 28th July 2014, during the Station Open Evening during Selsey Lifeboat Week, the volunteer crew were paged. The 45-foot Dutch yacht 'Sophia', with two people on board, had engine failure and no wind. The vessel was in danger of going aground on the Mixon reef and had gone to anchor before calling for assistance.
The Tyne class Lifeboat 'Voluntary Worker' launched at 7.30 p.m. and headed for the position of the 'Sophia' two miles south of the station. The skipper had recovered his anchor before the arrival of the Lifeboat so a tow was quickly established between the Lifeboat and the yacht. The 'Sophia' was towed to Sparkes Marina just inside Chichester Harbour and, after safely berthing the vessel alongside, 'Voluntary Worker' departed Sparkes at 9.30 p.m.
At 10.10 p.m. the Lifeboat arrived back at Selsey and was rehoused, refuelled, washed down and made ready for service by 11.00 p.m. The weather was calm with occasional rain.
CREW: Willy Pledger (Coxswain), Geoff Mellett (2nd Coxswain), Phil Pitham (Mechanic), Sam Troughton-Smith, Carol Tipping, Andy Lee, and Steve Somner (Trainee).