The Inshore lifeboat (ILB) launched at 5.25pm on Friday 10 February after the UK Coastguards received an emergency call from a member of the public saying that a small yacht appeared to be drifting approximately 300 metres off the shore at Selsey Bill.
The ILB was quickly on scene with the yacht which was approximately 600 metres south of the lifeboat station and confirmed with the one person on the yacht that they were drifting due to the vessel’s sails had jammed half way up the mast and had engine failure.
The weather on scene was wind westerly force 2-3 sea state slight with overcast sky.
The Helmsman decided the yacht would need towing to a safe haven and requested the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) be launched.
The ILB transferred a crewmember to the yacht to assist the skipper to establish a tow with the yacht to keep it from drifting ashore or on to the shallows scattered around Selsey with a low water only two hours away.
At 5.36pm the ALB launched and was quickly on scene with the yacht.
The ILB crewmember that was on the yacht stayed on to assist in establishing the tow with the ALB and the further passage to Chichester Harbour.
At 5.50pm the tow commenced towards the harbour and at 7.34pm the ALB and yacht entered Chichester harbour and just inside the entrance the yacht was bought to an alongside tow for the passage into Sparkes marina.
The Hayling Island Coastguard Rescue Team met the ALB at the marina to assist in berthing the yacht and at 7.52pm the vessel was safely berthed alongside.
The ALB was released by the UK Coastguards at 8.10pm and departed Sparkes marina for the passage back to Selsey, arriving back at 8.55pm the ALB was recovered straight away washed down, refuelled and made ready for service.
