AWL 47-031 ‘Voluntary Worker' launched at 1855 hrs to go to the assistance of the 32-foot yacht ‘Uwch-Y-Don’ which had fouled its rudder on fishing gear and was disabled with two persons on board, one male, one female, in a position approximately 4 miles southeast of the station.
The ‘Voluntary Worker' arrived on scene at 1910 hrs and soon attached a towline. A course was set for Chichester Harbour and after an uneventful tow the casualty was safely berthed in Sparkes Marina at 2137 hrs and with the aid of a long boathook the offending fishing line was soon removed.
At 2145 hrs whilst we were still in Sparkes Marina both of the Hayling Island Inshore Lifeboats were launched to search for a reported missing dinghy with 4 children in it. The ‘Voluntary Worker' immediately responded and joined both of the Hayling Lifeboats in Hayling Bay to assist in the search. After approximately one and a half hours all units were stood down as it transpired that the four children had returned to the beach shortly after being reported missing; unfortunately this information had not been relayed to the police and coastguards by the first informant!
The ‘Voluntary Worker' arrived back at station at 2342 hrs, rehoused straight away and was ready for service at 0015 hrs.
CREW: Martin Rudwick (Coxswain), Willy Pledger (2nd Coxswain), Geoff Mellett (Mechanic), Robert Archibald, Dave Lamdin, Isabel Porter, James Albery, Zoë Belcher.
WIND: N F3. SEA: Smooth. WEATHER: Sunny.