Two shouts for Cowes RNLI in the days before 999 day

The crew of Cowes RNLI were paged at 7.45pm on Saturday, 6th September, to assist a small powerboat with engine failure between Ryde and Fishbourne. The volunteer crew headed out on the station’s inshore lifeboat, Sheena Louise, in fading light in rough conditions, with wind against tide creating choppy seas.

A nearby yacht had responded to assist the vessel in trouble and two people on board, and was there as the RNLI crew arrived. With the powerboat drifting close to the main shipping channel, in a rough sea state, the decision was made to tow the vessel into Fishbourne. There, they were met by members of the Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team, and the Cowes RNLI crew headed back to the station just before 10pm.

Helm Adam said: “Our volunteer crew did a good job in rough conditions today. The conditions were tricky and we relied on our training to get the vessel back safely. I am proud of the volunteers at Cowes RNLI Station who give their time to train, prepare and respond when people need us.”

On Monday, 8th September, the crew were paged again at 4.30pm to a blue sailing vessel with engine trouble outside Beaulieu. A nearby motor vessel had attended to assist the yacht and contacted the coastguard.

The sailing vessel and two men on board were struggling to make progress under sail when the RNLI crew arrived. Two RNLI crew boarded the vessel and ascertained the safest action would be to tow it back to Trinity Landing. The vessel was towed back, made secure, and the crew were given safety information. The RNLI crew returned to station at 6pm for a short rest before a scheduled training launch at 7pm that evening.

The crew at Cowes RNLI, and 237 other stations around the UK coasts, provide a 24/7 rescue service in the Solent, 365 days a year, thanks to generous donations from the public. This 999 day, the national day to promote the work of emergency services, you can help save lives at sea by donating to the RNLI.

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RNLI media contacts

• Sofia Voudouroglou, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Deputy Press Officer 07594051372/ [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.