Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
10th May 2022
Selsey RNLI Respond to Yacht Taking Water
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UK Coastguard requested the launch of the Selsey Lifeboat after receiving a Pan Pan emergency call from the
lone sailor on a 27-foot yacht saying that the vessel was taking water. The yacht was approximately 8 miles ESE from the
Lifeboat station.
At 1.10 p.m. on Tuesday 10th May the Shannon class all-weather Lifeboat (ALB) launched and made best speed to the vessel's given position. The ALB arrived on scene at 1.25 p.m. and, after speaking to the skipper, the Coxswain made the decision to transfer a Lifeboat crewman to the vessel to assist him. The weather on scene was wind westerly force 5, sea state moderate in sunny spells.
The Lifeboat crewman reported that the yacht had been motoring and the water was coming from a split hose and the yacht's own pumps were coping with it. The engine was stopped, and the Coxswain elected to tow the yacht to the safety of Chichester Harbour. A tow was established between the Lifeboat and the yacht and at 1.48 p.m. the vessel was under tow to the harbour. The yacht had been on passage from Eastbourne to Chichester Harbour.
At 4.00 p.m. the entrance to Chichester Harbour was reached and, shortly after entering the harbour, the yacht was switched to an alongside tow. At 5.33 p.m. the yacht was safely berthed alongside at Sparkes Marina and the UK Coastguard released the Selsey ALB to return to station. The ALB arrived back at Selsey at 6.17 p.m. and was beached ready for recovery at 6.25 p.m. Recovery, washdown, refuelling and making ready for service was completed by 7.45p.m.
CREW: Colin Pullenger (Coxswain), Phil Pitham (Mechanic), James Albrey, Sam Corcoran-Smith, Neil Hopcraft, and Tim Scott.