Boat launched : Atlantic 85
Date : Saturday 4 July
Launched at : 11:36
Returned at : 12:15
Weather : Fine & sunny but with a SW F5 wind.
The skipper of a 44ft yacht put out a MAYDAY call to the UK Coastguards, after his sailing yacht collided with the bow of an anchored fishing boat in Hayling Bay. The Hayling RNLI Lifeboat crew were at the station on Saturday 4 July getting ready to take both lifeboats to support the Ship Inn Raft race, when a MAYDAY call was heard reporting a collision between two vessels. The Duty Launch Authority was called and a request from the UK Coastguard to respond was received.
The Atlantic 85 was launched almost immediately and went to where the two casualty craft were in Hayling Bay. They found the yacht ‘New Dreams’ which had been sailing, and a Merry Fisher motor boat ‘Captain Jack’ anchored where it had been fishing. ‘New Dreams’ had made the emergency call immediately following the impact.Lifeboat crew members were put on board both casualty boats to assess any damage and crew injuries. The fishing boat had sustained damage to the pulpit rail and the bow but no water was getting into the boat. None of the crew on either boat was injured. Senior helm Andy Ferguson said’ This was an unfortunate collision but a lucky one in that it did not result in any serious injuries.’ Having exchanged contact details the skipper of ‘Captain Jack’ was happy to make his way back to Southsea Marina unassisted where he was met by the Portsmouth Coastguards. The yacht skipper also proceeded on his way into Chichester Harbour escorted by the lifeboat and it was a grateful crew that then made their way home after a rather too eventful trip back.
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