Weekend Update

This page was updated on: Monday, July 5, 2010

Saturday 31st July 2010

Crews spent the day practicing boat handling afloat as well as completing some local patrols.

The only incident of the day proved to be a shore based first aid dealt with by the station crew.

Sunday 1st August 2010

Again all vessels completed local patrols and crew training.

Towards the evening VR1 was scrambled by Solent Coastguard to investigate reports of a two by two meter square drifting down the Western Solent reported by someone in the Gurnard Area.

VR1 arrived on scene to find it was a racing mark that had not yet been recovered, a passing club RIB also came over and advised they would make arrangements to recover it when the tide had dropped a bit.

Monday 2nd August 2010

VR1, VR3 and VR4 all completed local patrols and several small localised familiarisation sessions with some of the younger cadets. With Cowes week in full swing we were all rather patiently waiting to see how the week panned out!

Tuesday 3rd August 2010

Much of the same as Monday all boats completed routine patrols of both the race areas and surrounding areas, we are glad to report no one required our assistance during this day.

Wednesday 4th August 2010

Again all vessels completed patrols and exercises together, with the weather slowly getting worse as the week progressed the crews began to realise we may not get to the end of the week without being called.

We were also pleased to be able to finally hold the naming ceremony for our new boat “TLC – Online Venturer” was named by John and Jaki from TLC Online in a service at Lepe held by the Rev Ivan Page.

Also attending were members of the local church, Coastguard, the police force, and the local council.

All our cadets turned out in parade uniform as we blessed the boat and those that serve on it.

Thursday 5th August 2010

Today proved our predictions to be correct, as the week was drawing to a close it became apparent that the yachtsmen and women were become tired and misfortune soon struck a few vessels.

The first call of the day came when a yacht ran aground on Lepe Spit. VR4 was launched to assist and arrived on scene just in time to guide the yacht off to deeper water before checking all was ok and everyone on board was safe and well. VR3 was almost instantly after summoned to the aid of another vessel aground this time on Gull Island.

The situation was complicated by the skipper on board jumping over the side to try and push the vessel off by hand wearing only a pair of shorts.

He misjudged the keel length and was out of his depth when VR3 (the newly blessed boat!) swiftly pulled him from the water before the currents swept him away from the boat.

VR1 was later raised by Solent Coastguard and given a tasking to an incident in Thorness bay, launching on service VR1 was tasked to the aid of a stricken X Boat aground on quarry ledge, on arrival it became apparent the vessel was bouncing on the rocks and taking water over the side as she listed heavily to port.

Without delay VR1 got alongside and slowly and very gently moved the vessel to deep water. With this the crew could place one of our small salvage pumps on board and empty the vessel.

With all now well and the vessel confirmed as sustaining no damage she was towed into Cowes to be met by Needles Coastguard mobile.

Vr1 last incident of the evening was to the assistance of the yacht Valhalla who suffered engine failure in the Beaulieu River with a dragging anchor.

VR1 arrived on scene and took the 55 foot 20 tonne yacht in tow to its mooring further up river.

The crew where then taken off and delivered to the sailing club into the care of the Southampton Coastguard Rescue Team

Firday 6th August 2010

VR1 was again launched on service this time to the assistance of two vessels involved in a collision near the Raymarine buoy.

VR1 arrived alongside the first yacht and established that although holed in the port side the vessel was not taking water and the damage was mainly cosmetic.

The vessel continued under the escort of Cowes lifeboat towards Gosport. VR1 turned its attention to the assistance of the second vessel that had sustained large cracks to the bow.

This vessel was taking water although the bilge system was just about coping.

The vessel was slowly carefully and closely escorted to the Hamble River and arrangements were made to have it lifted out. VR1 confirmed all occupants of both vessels were well and no medical treatment was required.

The evening saw the Cowes firework display marking the end of Cowes week 2010.
All vessels were afloat for this event however our assistance was not required.

All vessels returned to station at 0100 hours and the crew as per all nights went down to Night watch on station maintaining both availability to coastguard and ambulance services throughout the night.