Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
18th April 2015
Selsey RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Launched to Yacht Aground
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Selsey Lifeboat volunteers were paged at 4.32 p.m. on Saturday 18th April 2015. Solent Coastguard had received a call from the 9-metre yacht 'Moody Mania' reporting that the vessel was aground in a position they believed was off of Selsey Bill.
The inshore Lifeboat 'Betty & Thomas Moore' with a crew of three launched at 4.42 p.m. and proceeded to the yacht which could be seen from the Lifeboat station. When on scene with the vessel they established that the lone elderly sailor was well but was unsure of his position.
As low tide was at 5.30 p.m. the lifeboat crew decided to kedge his anchor out and wait with the vessel until the tide turned and flooded enough to free the vessel from the sea bed. The weather on scene was wind force 5-6 with a moderate to rough sea and clear sky.
The 'Moody Mania' had been on passage from Ipswich to Bristol and was heading for Chichester harbour for the night. The Helmsman of the inshore Lifeboat said that the vessel was poorly equipped with safety equipment.
At 7.00 p.m. the 'Moody Mania' came free of the bottom and the inshore Lifeboat towed her into clear water. With the skipper of the yacht happy to continue his passage to Chichester harbour unaided the inshore Lifeboat was released by Solent Coastguard to return to station.
The Lifeboat arrived back at station at 8.10 p.m. and was rehoused, washed down and refuelled ready for the next call by 8.35 p.m.
CREW: Gary Pearce (Helmsman), Sam Troughton-Smith, and Pip Skeet.
Video of this service call courtesy of Max Gilligan, Crew Member and LPO.