Incident Reports

This page was updated on: Thursday, 01-Sep-2011 09:24:48 BST

28th August 2011

A report from Solent Rescue that a large log was spotted just off lepe car park beach , Vr4 had just launched so was available to recover the large navigational hazard , Thanks to solent rescue for the report.

Later in the day VSAR control spotted a small rib trying to tow a large powerboat in gurnard bay, Vr1 launched to investigate upon arrival the tow had been passed to a motor vessel, upon arrival communication was made with the towing vessel, it was decided that the tow was safe and the motor cruiser was happy to tow them to the medina, then transfer the tow to Vr1 to take it into cowes yacht haven, Vr1 took the tow over and landed the vessel safely into cowes yacht haven.

10th August 2011

Whilst on patrol Vr2 came across a dismasted yacht, communication was made with the vessel and everything was ok.

Vr2 escorted vessel into cowes.upon completion Vr2 spoke to cowes harbour master where they were informed of a yacht in difficulty just off the brambles,upon arrival at the brambles it was spotted that a person had gone overboard Vr2 swiftly picked up the MOB and after a though check over was transferred back to the yacht.

7th August 2011

On a busy start to cowes week Vr3 was called into action in the afternoon, after a crew transfer Vr3 was proceeding back to the launch beach, when a woman waved them from the shore, upon a arrival a small fishing vessel was beached with engine failure.

Vr3 started to proceed to tow the vessel off the beach, in the mean time the vessel managed to get its engine running again,so Vr3 escorted the boat up to ginns farm.

31st July 2011

17.00 - After a interesting training day doing a helicopter exercise with 104, V2 was proceeding down river after recovering V1 when control spotted a 36ft yacht aground at the mouth of the Beaulieu river.

Due to the low spring tide, upon arrival a small motor launch was trying to tow the yacht off, the tow was handed over to V2 at the skippers request.

V2 then placed one of our crew men on-board as the yacht was being sailed single handed, the tow line was attached and the yacht was successfully towed into deeper water and escorted into the river.

9th July 2011

16.46 - Whilst on a routine patrol of the Western Solent, a report came in of yacht with its jib caught in its rudder and unable to dislodge it, V1 called Solent coastguard and offered to assist.

V1 was tasked and proceeded to Newtown creek, where upon arrival the yacht was found circling as its rudder was jammed, V1 then put a crew member onto the casualty vessel ,getting them to drop their main sail. V1 then towed them to their mooring at Ginns farm in Beaulieu river.

10th July 2011

15.45- On a calm day V1 was yet again called into action in the later part of the day, as the crews where preparing to go for recovery a report came in of a yacht aground in the Beaulieu river.

As V1 was right next to the casualty vessel, Solent coastguard requested that V1 Assist the yacht "little flower" Upon arrival it was discovered that the yachts gearbox had failed, so the yacht was towed of the bank then towed to its mooring up Beaulieu river.

12th June 2011

15.45 - On a very windy and wet day a group of nine kayaks departed lepe country park for a trip to bucklers hard, VR2 escorted the kayaks until they were in the calmer waters of beaulieu river.

Solent coastguard were informed , later in the day Southampton mobile was concerned of the location of the kayaks,so V2 proceeded up river to locate them, four kayaks were located on their way down river to get their cars from lepe to then collect the rest of the kayaks via land, as V2 was escorting them back, one of the kayaks asked if he could be recovered onto the boat as he was finding it hard to row in the strong winds and tide,V2 then took the kayak back to lepe country park and V1 continued the escort duty, they all made it back safe and well and were met by southampton mobile and tango four.

11th June 2011

13.17 - Lepe control received a phone call regarding a yacht aground on lepe spit V1 launched, on arrival the yacht had managed to make their own way off. Solent coastguard informed.

13.40 - Whilst on a patrol of the eastern solent a pan pan distress call was put out, of a yacht aground on the brambles back, V1 offered assistance but was informed to stand by until Hamble rescues arrival,upon arrival Hamble rescue requested that V1 proceed with the tow which was successfully completed.

( here is the following letter received from the grateful skipper)

Dear Sirs
I'm writing to thank both your organisations for the assistance given to me on Saturday afternoon, when I unfortunately ran aground on the Bramble Bank. The response to my Pan Pan call was really quick and once your crews had assessed the situation the rescue was quick and effective. Just in time for us to start the second race of the day! Please convey my thanks to the crews involved.

Kind regards

Robin Milledge
'Contessa catherine'

22nd May 2011

12.04 - As V1 was taking a crew to collect V2 up river a report came in that a 56ft motor vessel had engine failure in beaulieu river,Hamble rescue where tasked by Solent coastguard to assist,as both boats where coming down river back to lepe.

Hamble rescue requested that V1 escort them with the motor cruiser in tow to bucklers hard to keep on coming vessels clear, upon arrival at bucklers hard V1 and Hamble rescue worked successfully together to get the large vessel along side a jetty.

15th May 2011

10.44 - V1 launched to its annual duty at the RIBEX show at cowes,when a report came in of a dog mid channel just off yarmouth,V1 offered assistance and was tasked by Solent coastguard to conduct a search.V1 conducted a through search of the area between hurst point and yarmouth but nothing was spotted and stood down by Solent coastguard.

15.20 - A yacht was spotted from our operational control that had gone aground at the mouth of beaulieu river due to the spring low tides,V1 launched and successfully towed the yacht exhibit off, while this was happening a number of other yachts attempting to enter the river where also running aground, at the request of Southampton mobile V1 was asked to stay in the area to assist any other vessels, with some managing to get off ,a second vessel did not have such luck and asked V1 for a tow which was successfully completed,also a small single handed sloop asked for an escort into the river to avoid the banks.

1st May 2011

13.15 - On the first day of the new season, VR4 was launched at Lepe on sea trials when there was a report of a dis-masted yacht in Beaulieu river,VR4 was on scene in minutes

Solent Rescue was tasked,VR4 was requested by solent rescue to ask if any assistance was required, as sail and tackle was a potential hazard to the larger boat, crew were all okay and yacht recovered sail and mast, and made its own way back to hamble with an escort from solent rescue.

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