Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
16th July 2015
Selsey All Weather Lifeboat Responds to Emergency Call From Belgium Catamaran
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The 10-metre vessel 'Teddy Beer' had hooked a fishing pot line on to its drive system. The man and woman on board were unable to free it and so put an emergency call into Solent Coastguard requesting assistance. Their given position was 2.5 nm south of Selsey Bill.
The volunteer crew were paged at 4.44 p.m. and the Tyne class Lifeboat, 'Voluntary Worker', with a crew of seven, launched at 4.54 p.m. The Lifeboat arrived on scene at 5.08 p.m. to find 'Teddy Beer' laying broadside to the tide. The weather on scene was light winds and a smooth sea in hazy sunshine.
Two Lifeboat crew, 2nd Coxswain, Willy Pledger, and Gary Pearce, were transferred to 'Teddy Beer' with the long handle knife (a tool used for cutting rope under water) and at 5.40 p.m. the rope was successfully cleared from under the vessel.
The crew of 'Teddy Beer' were happy to carry on their passage to Chichester Harbour and so the two Lifeboat crew were recovered from the catamaran before the Lifeboat departed to return to Selsey at 5.48 p.m., rehousing at 6.18 p.m.
CREW: Martin Rudwick (Coxswain), Willy Pledger (2nd Coxswain), Phil Pitham (Mechanic), Gary Pearce, Andy Lee, John Reeves and Harry Emmence (Trainee).