Two rescues on an August Sunday.

Boats launched : Atlantic 85

Date : Sunday 30 August

Launched at : 12:50

Returned at : 14:54

Weather : Fine with a light F2 SW wind.

On a pleasant Sunday afternoon in late August, with a light SW wind, two different casualties found the ebbing tide too much to cope with.

The 26ft sailing yacht ‘Bridey’ had earlier suffered engine failure in Hayling Bay but was making headway under sail back towards its home mooring in Birdham Pool. By early afternoon however the wind had dropped and the tide was against them as they rounded the W Pole Beacon and came to a stop. They radioed for help and we launched the Atlantic 85 lifeboat and were quickly on scene. A crewman went aboard and a tow was established to take the casualty to Sparkes Marina. Once in the harbour the Harbour Patrol vessel came alongside and offered them a tow back to Birdham which was gratefully accepted.

 

Before the lifeboat could return to station another call sent us looking for a Wayfarer dinghy said to be ‘drifting out of the harbour.’ We soon found the dinghy which was in fact at anchor and fishing. The lifeboat helm advised the crew that with the strength of the ebb tide and the fading wind they would be unlikely to be able to sail back into the harbour. A tow was set up and the skipper asked if we could take them back to the East Head moorings. Once we had done so and left them at anchor, we advised the Harbour Patrol that they were at East Head in case they needed to be towed further up the harbour.

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Service Numbers 2019

Total Launches: 84
Atlantic 85: 42
D-Class: 42

Services Totals

2015 - 67
2014 -77
2013 - 86
2012 - 77

Tide Times

Tide times and heights not available for http://www.tidetimes.co.uk/rss/chichester-harbour-entrance-tide-times

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