Selsey lifeboats rescue yacht in difficulty

Both Selsey RNLI lifeboats were called out to assist a yacht which got into difficulty on Tuesday.
The salvage pump. Photo: RNLI/Max GilliganThe salvage pump. Photo: RNLI/Max Gilligan
The salvage pump. Photo: RNLI/Max Gilligan

The coxswain contacted the UK Coastguards with concerns for a small yacht which was on a course that would possibly put the yacht in danger of running aground at around 8am on Tuesday.

Around 40 minutes later, the coxswain informed the Coastguard he could no longer see the casualty and decided to send both the inshore lifeboat (ILB) and the Selsey Coastguard team to locate the vessel on the west side of Selsey Bill out of view from the boathouse.

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The inshore lifeboat launched and located the yacht approximately 1.2 miles south-southwest of the station.

On the yacht, the sole occupant confirmed he had grounded several times and that his engine had failed.

The Helmsman decided to tow the vessel into deeper water and requested the all-weather lifeboat to tow the yacht to Chichester harbour.

The skipper reported he was unable to sail due to rigging problems and confirmed there was no ingress of water.

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The all-weather Shannon class lifeboat launched and rendezvoused with the ILB at around 10am.

A tow was established between the ALB and the yacht and a course set for Chichester harbour.

The ILB crewmember that went aboard the yacht to rig the tow stayed aboard for the passage to Chichester and at 1130am reported that the yacht had water ingress and a salvage pump was required.

The vessel was brought alongside the lifeboat where the salvage pump suction pipe could reach into the bilge of the yacht.

This was successful in reducing the water level.

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Chichester harbour entrance was reached at around noon and the yacht was safely berthed alongside in Sparkes marina 20 minutes later.

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