The volunteer RNLI crew at Selsey were paged at 9.50 p.m. on Saturday 16th August. Solent Coastguard had received several reports from the Felpham and Pagham areas. The reports were of a kite surfer seen a good distance off shore then disappearing from view.
The weather on scene was wind west north-west force 6 with a moderate sea state, and with darkness falling Solent Coastguards sent Littlehampton Coastguard team to Felpham and Pagham to speak to the first informants and also tasked the Helicopter Rescue 104 to carry out a search of the area. At 9.50 p.m. Selsey Lifeboat was tasked to join the search with both the all weather Tyne class Lifeboat, 'Voluntary Worker', and the inshore Lifeboat 'D' class, 'Betty and Thomas Moore'.
The inshore Lifeboat was instructed to search close inshore from Pagham Harbour to Felpham, checking the shoreline in case the surfer had come ashore. On reaching Felpham the inshore Lifeboat fired a parachute flare to illuminate the surrounding area. On completion of this leg they were instructed to return to Pagham Harbour checking out Bognor rocks on route. When this was completed at a position ½ mile south of Pagham, they were stood down to return to station.
The all weather Lifeboat was instructed to search ½ a mile off shore from Pagham Harbour to Bognor Pier, stepping in by 200 metres for the return leg and then another 200 metres before going back towards the Pier. After completing the three legs of that search the Lifeboat was instructed to proceed to a position 1½ miles south of Pagham Harbour search parallel to the shore up to Felpham stopping every 200 metres, shutting down the engines and calling out for a response. When that leg was completed the Lifeboat stepped out a further ½ miles and headed to a position south of Pagham Harbour. At 12.17 a.m. on 17th August the search was terminated by Solent Coastguard with nothing found.
Both Lifeboats returned to Station, rehoused at 12.50 a.m. and were washed down, refuelled and ready for service by 1.30 a.m.
ILB CREW: Colin Pullenger (Helmsman), Gary Pearce, and Pip Skeet (Trainee).
AWL CREW: Willy Pledger (Coxswain), Rob Archibald (2nd Coxswain), Simon Berry (Relief Mechanic), Max Gilligan, Will Moir, John Reeves, and Max Wiseman (Trainee).