The lifeboat was launched  to a board sailor waving for assistance on the Winner Bank, at Chichester Harbour Entrance. The male casualty and rig (broken boom) were taken on board and brought back to the Lifeboat Station at 12.04. The lifeboat was then made ready for sea by 12.20. 

The B Class Atlantic 85 was tasked to West Wittering at 15.45 hrs to a man acting suspiciously up to his waist in the water on West Wittering beach. The West Wittering Estates Manager contacted Solent Coastguard who diverted the lifeboat, which was on exercise in Chichester Harbour. By the time the lifeboat arrived on scene he was identified as a West Sussex District council worker in a dry suit and lifejacket. The Lifeboat resumed her exercise at 15.52 hrs.

At the request of West Sussex Police, Solent Coastguard requested the launch of both lifeboats to search for a 62yr old suicidal male reported to have entered the water at West Wittering. Selsey Lifeboat, Rescue 104 Helo and HMCG Auxiliaries were also tasked.  After searching for 1 1/2 hours in winds of F7  and a heavy sea both inside the harbour and south of West Wittering, all units were stood down as the man had been found ashore at Bosham.  the lifeboats RTS at 19.45.

The lifeboat was tasked to assist a kite surfer in difficulties south of Hayling Island but  the launch was cancelled at 16.10 as assistance was no longer required.

Atlantic 85

16.02

Selsey lifeboat was towing a yacht taking in water from the East Solent to Northney marina. The coastguards requested the Atlantic to take over the tow from Selsey Lifeboat at the harbour entrance in about 1 hour. The crew assembled. Thirty minutes later the crew  were stood down as the yacht was now making it’s own way back to Gosport.

At 12.45 whilst attending a dead horse on East Wittering beach the crew saw a kite surfer in the water having lost his board. He was escorted to the beach, the board located and brought to him.

Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to a horse in the water off East Wittering. The D boat was launched and found the dead animal at the waters edge. The horse had suffered a heart attack. The crew assisted moving the animal up the beach and made sure that those attending to the horse were safe in the water.

The duty crew  had already mustered to launch for a daylight exercise and in the process of passing over crew numbers etc, mentioned to Solent Coastguard that there was a long keeled yacht stranded NE of the Station on the Winner Bank, just inside Chichester Harbour. HMCG requested that the lifeboat be launched and to ascertain that all was well on board. There was also concern that the vessel might be neaped. The Lifeboat launched, proceeded and closed the yacht's position or as near as she could get as the vessel  was well aground. It was established that the two persons on board were OK and that arrangements were going to be made with others, to tow her off on the next high tide later in the day. This was in fact done and she was refloated with outside assistance later in the day. The lifeboat departed the scene and commenced her exercise at 10.52.

Solent Coastguard requested the  launch of the D Class to a white dinghy supposedly in difficulties following a 999 call from a member of the public.  Once on scene, it was established that the dinghy had been moored by a fishing vessel which had gone further out to sea, fishing. As nothing was out of order, the Helm of the D Class lifeboat ensured that the dinghy was properly anchored and then returned to station at 16.13.

The lifeboat was tasked to join the search for a missing man thought to be in distress after clothes, glasses, mobile phone & car keys were found on the Eastney Beach. Hampshire Police involved. Coastguard Helo 104 also tasked. The Hayling lifeboat searched the East Winner sands outside Langstone Harbour entrance and the West Pole Sands outside Chichester Harbour. Nothing found. Hampshire Police found him at home. The lifeboat returned to station at 12.05.

The lifeboat was launched at  to support Selsey Lifeboat & ILB in the search for a missing boy off Selsey Bill. The  Coastguard Helo 104 and mobile were also tasked. A comprehensive search of the area around Selsey Bill and down to the west was conducted on west going tide. After two and a half hours, it was established by West Sussex Police that it was a hoax call and all units stood down. The lifeboat returned to station at 18.15.

The lifeboat was tasked at to an abandoned dinghy (tender) drifting 1/2 nm west of West Pole, in Hayling Bay. Once on scene, there was no evidence that anyone had been on board. A search was conducted in the immediate but abandoned after it was established that it was likely to have come off a yacht. The Lifeboat was released at 12.00 and continued on exercise.

The lifeboat was launched to a 42ft yacht that was dragging her anchor in the Thorney Channel, Chichester Harbour and had ended up on a lee shore. The skipper had gone ashore to go shopping. Solent Coastguard were contacted by the skipper's wife in a state of panic as she was not sure what to do and had two small children on board. Once alongside, two crewmen were placed aboard and the mother and two children were reassured and all found to be OK. The yacht was still afloat so the engine was started and attempts were made to raise the anchor using the built in windlass. This was not working so the anchor and chain were raised by hand. In the conditions prevailing, the anchor was judged to be of insufficient size. The vessel was taken initially to a mooring but again, judged not large enough to hold the size and weight of the casualty vessel. It was at this point that the skipper returned to the vessel. Having consulted the
Chichester Harbour Conservancy, it was agreed to escort the vessel to a pontoon at Itchenor where she was made safe. The Atlantic 85 then returned to station and made ready for further service at 19.05

Following a number of 999 calls to Solent Coastguard the lifeboat was launched to two girls (17 & 12) in the water following the capsize of their Topper sailing dinghy off West Wittering. They had lost their dagger board which was not tied tied on and therefore unable to right it. However, they managed to get back to the shore by the time the lifeboat had arrived. The Lifeboat returned to station at approx 18.06 

The A85 Launch requested by HMCG to vessel aground on West Pole Sands (Eastoke Point). Once on scene the  A85  requested the launch of the D Class because casualty vessel in too shallow water.  D Class launched at 21.44hrs. On flood tide and under the supervision of the D Class,  the vessel lifted off and was escorted by both Lifeboats into Harbour. As she made her own way initially up harbour, it soon became clear that the skipper had no local knowledge especially in darkness and the Snr Helm on the A85 took the decision to escort the vessel to Emsworth where she was moored up.  The A85 RTS at 23.45hrs

The lifeboat was launched to assist  small fishing (angling) boat that  had broken down. The casualty was towed to safety.The lifeboat returned to station and made ready for further service.

Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to assist a powerboat that had run aground. The water intake was blocked and the engine over heated. The lifeboat crew helped to start the engine and the boat was escorted to safety. The lifeboat returned to station at 01.30.

Following a request via mobile phone from a single handed kayaker, 'lost' somewhere between the Isle of Wight and Hayling Is,  Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the  lifeboat  to commence searching in the southern half of Hayling Bay.  Bembridge RNLI all weather and inshore lifeboats and Sandown Rescue were also tasked. He was finally found by the Bembridge Lifeboat amongst two ships anchored in St Helen's Roads. off Bembridge. The lifeboat returned to station at 14.30.

Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to search for a jet skier driver missing in the water after his unoccupied jet ski was washed ashore at Eastney. Both Portsmouth Lifeboats, the Hayling Island Atlantic 85 and Coastguard Helicopter 104 were all tasked. The man was found (very cold having been in the water for 25 minutes) by a passing windsurfer and handed over to Portsmouth Lifeboat which  took him back to Portsmouth Lifeboat Station and he was  passed into the care of waiting ambulance crew. The Hayling lifeboat was stood down and returned to Station. 

Both lifeboats were launched to a MacGregor 24' with 3 POB stranded on the northern edge of the Winner Bank, Chichester Harbour on the fast ebbing tide.  The Lifeboat helmsman decided that the boat was too far aground and as the skipper was happy to sit it out until the next high tide, the anchor was deployed and left aground.  The lifeboats returned to station:  A85 at 17.35 and D Class at 17.25.

The lifeboat was launched to a 14' Fletcher speedboat with 4 adults stranded on saltings north of the Mill Rythe channel. The lifeboat  took off the 4 POB and left the speedboat at anchor to be recovered on the next high tide. The lifeboat returned to station at 16.30 with the casualties.

Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat after receiving a report that two people were in the water from a capsized dinghy. When the lifeboat reached the scene, the casualties had managed to get ashore assisted by others.

The lifeboat was launched to search for a  woman who had disappeared whilst swimming in the sea parallel to Hayling Island.  After searching for some 10-12 mins, it was established that she had made it ashore and the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station at 12.50.

Whilst on exercise, the A85 tasked at 20.10 to the area seaward  of a dredger after a member of the public reported seeing someone in the water. Once on scene , it was found to be a very large bank of seaweed and debris churned up by the dredger. The lifeboat returned to exercise at 20.20.

The lifeboat was launched to a small inflatable off South Hayling. The lifeboat returned to station at 19.18.

Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to two 12 year old girls stranded on a sand bank with an incoming tide.at West Wittering  The girls were picked up by the lifeboat and taken back to the shore safe and well. The lifeboat returned to station at 12.55.

The lifeboat was tasked to a 37ft yacht with jammed steering. The crew assembled but a launch was not required as the problem was fixed when the yacht's auto helm was switched off.

Following release from previous incident, the lifeboat was tasked to a 40' power boat stranded on the Winner Bank, Chichester Harbour. All found OK. An anchor was laid out and the skipper and his wife left to await the incoming tide.

The lifeboat was tasked to search for two kite surf sails.  No sails were found as they had been recovered but one kite board was found. The lifeboat then continued on exercise.

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