Boat launched : Atlantic 85
Date : Friday 30 November
Launched at : 00:25
Returned at : 01:40
Weather : Calm and very clear with a bright moon. Very cold, just above freezing point. Wind N Force 2
At 12.25am on Saturday November 30 the Hayling Island RNLI Lifeboat was called out to go to the aid of a 30ft Westerly yacht ‘Whisper ‘ whose skipper and crew were advised by Northney Marina staff not to set sail. They set out on a trip which would take them via Cowes and then on eventually to Gibraltar. The conditions were calm but it was possibly the coldest night of the winter with temperatures around freezing point.
They left the marina but ran aground on a falling tide and the security guard, fearing they might try to swim ashore, rang the Solent Coastguard. The Atlantic 85 lifeboat was launched and met the yacht. The lifeboat crew persuaded the skipper to divert to Sparkes Marina and a crewman went on board to assist. The yacht, travelling very slowly was escorted to Sparkes, briefly running aground again at Marker point.
Later on Saturday morning the Coastguards returned and interviewed the two crew with the result that the boat is restricted to stay in the marina and the incident will be further investigated. Lifeboat Station Operations Manager Jonathan Bradbury said ‘We are very pleased to have been able to prevent what might have become a more serious issue.’
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