Boat launched: Atlantic 85
Date: Thursday 6 September
Launched at: 22:38
Returned at: 00:50
Weather : Westerly wind Force 3
A ketch rigged yacht with skipper, crew and a 13 month old baby on board had started to take on water and so the skipper had beached her at East Head. Solent Coastguard asked us to go to her assistance so the Atlantic 85 was launched with a salvage pump on board and quickly reached the scene. The vessel was aground and so a crew member walked with the pump to the ketch.
The lady crew and the baby had left the yacht and were on East Head and they were cold in the night air. The helmsman decided to take them back to the station to warm up, leaving a crew member with the task of pumping out the vessel. Once landed the mother and baby were collected by the families parents.
Returning to the ketch it was found that the vessels stern gland was leaking and so it was decided to launch the ketch maintaining the pump out process and tow it to Itchenor where it was met by the Selsey Coastguard Mobile Unit and beached next to the Harbour Masters pontoon. Once done the lifeboat returned to the station and was made ready for further service.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________