Cowes RNLI on Duty During Isle of Wight Festival Weekend

On Saturday 21 June, Cowes RNLI inshore lifeboat launched at 8.30PM on a planned patrol for the Isle of Wight Festival, as requested by HM Coastguard. By 8.45PM, the lifeboat was tasked to investigate reports on a person in the River Medina attempting to swim across to access the festival grounds.

With authorisation from the harbour master, the crew of the Sheena Louise made best speed up the river and arrived on scene. Festival security reported they had seen a man entering the water near Newport Rowing Club, but had not seen him emerge. In fading light on the longest day of the year, with an outgoing tide, the Cowes RNLI crew conducted a thorough search along the shoreline. Bembridge and Needles Coastguard teams, a Hampshire police RIB, and festival security vessels joined in the extensive search, which revealed nothing. Just as the crew were directed to stand down, the person in question was located safe within festival grounds. The Cowes lifeboat returned to festival patrol, and saw no further action that evening. The crew returned to the station at 11.30PM.

On Sunday, 22 June, the lifeboat was called out at 10AM, this time to a yacht taking on water off Calshot Spit. The crew arrived at the station and readied the lifeboat, but were stood down as Hamble Lifeboat and Solent Rescue had both attended the incident and no further assistance was required.

That evening at 11.15PM, during planned festival patrol, the RNLI crew came across a RIB with faulty navigation lights. As the RIB’s crew were also not wearing lifejackets, the Sheena Louise escorted them back to Shepard’s Marina and shared key safety advice. The crew returned to the station just after midnight, washed the lifeboat down and refuelled ready for service.

Myles, Cowes RNLI helm throughout the weekend, said: "The Isle of Wight Festival is a fantastic event, and it's great to see so many people enjoying themselves. Our job is to help ensure everyone stays safe while they're having fun on or near the water. Please remember to always follow safety advice, and if you ever find yourself or see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

Thank you to the volunteer crew of Cowes RNLI who spent their festival weekend on patrol.

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RNLI media contacts

• Sofia Voudouroglou, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Deputy Press Officer 07594051372/ [email protected]

• George Chastney, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Press Officer 07530 254052/ [email protected]

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789.

About Cowes RNLI Station

Cowes Lifeboat Station is converted from a former HM Customs Watch House, the rear of which is 300 years old. It looks out onto one of the world’s busiest shipping waterways and carries out a range of interesting services every year. It is the only station to be opened by Queen Elizabeth II.