Boat launched : Atlantic 85
Date : Monday 23 February
Launched at : 14:14
Returned at : 15:20
Weather : Quite rough with a F5 WSW wind.
The commercial fishing boat ‘Horizon’ had finished fishing and was running downwind at the W end of Hayling Bay. Based in Portsmouth the skipper turned into the wind and waves to make for his home port. A big rogue wave caught the catamaran and broke over the bow filling a large plastic holding tank situated on the forward deck. This caused the boat to be bow down and so more waves started to break over the deck causing the skipper to turn back so she went downwind and with the waves. The boat was still bow heavy however and waves came in over the starboard side where there was little freeboard and began to get below into the starboard hull. A MAYDAY call was made for assistance and both Portsmouth and Hayling Inshore Lifeboats were launched, and the S&R Helicopter was paged. The lifeboats reached the casualty at the same time and both put crewmembers on board with salvage pumps. Once the pumps were running and emptying some of the water the boat became more manageable and was able to proceed into Chichester Harbour escorted by the lifebaots. The helicopter, now not needed returned to base. ‘Horizon’ was taken into Sparkes Marina where the pumping out was completed and then the lifeboats returned to their stations.
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