Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
17th September 2020
Selsey Inshore Lifeboat Attempts to Refloat Yacht
.jpg "Yacht aground") |
.jpg "Yacht aground") |
.jpg "Yacht aground") |
.jpg "Yacht aground") |
Selsey RNLI Inshore lifeboat (ILB) was paged direct from the boathouse at 3.32 p.m. on Thursday 17th September after an ex Selsey Lifeboat crewman phoned the Coxswain reporting a yacht drifting through the moorings just off of the boathouse. As the Coxswain walked on to the beach a Poole Lifeboat crewmember visiting Selsey also reported the yacht to him.
The ILB launched at 3.40 p.m. but in the short time it took to muster the crews the yacht had run aground on the beach so the ILB made best speed to the yacht approximately 300 yards east of the boathouse. A tow line was quickly thrown to the single person on board the yacht. The weather on scene was wind easterly force 3-4, sea state moderate in sunshine. Once the tow was established the ILB tried to tow the yacht off of the beach before the tide dropped any more. Unfortunately, with the wind and swell pushing the yacht on to the beach, this proved unsuccessful.
The ILB was beached and the crew joined the Selsey Coastguard rescue team (CRT). The skipper of the yacht reported that he had a possible engine fire during the passage from Chichester Harbour to Littlehampton and had drifted into the moorings before running aground. The Coastguards decided to get the engine room checked and so two West Sussex fire appliances arrived and, after using thermal imaging equipment, gave the all clear. The Skipper was adamant that he was staying on the vessel until the tide came in and so the ILB crew and the Coastguards secured the vessel to a groyne and the yacht's anchor was kedged.
It was decided by the Deputy Launch Authority and the Coxswain that both Selsey Lifeboats would would return at 7.45 p.m. to await the incoming tide as the sea conditions were due to get worse. The ILB would assist the yacht off the beach and the ALB would be offshore to assist if and when the yacht refloated. The ILB was released and returned to station at 4.56 p.m.
CREW: Sam Corcoran–Smith (Helmsman), Max Wiseman and Jake Harnett.