Cowes And Yarmouth Lifeboats Team Up For Thorness Bay Yacht Rescue

Credit Yarmouth RNLI; Yarmouth RNLI’s Y-boat approaches the yacht aground near Thorness Bay

Cowes and Yarmouth RNLI crews were called into action on Saturday (1 November) after a 37ft yacht ran aground near Thorness Bay.

The vessel issued a mayday distress call around 11am after striking a ledge, prompting the launch of Cowes RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Sheena Louise.

However, shallow waters prevented the crew from reaching the yacht, so assistance was requested from Yarmouth’s all-weather lifeboat Eric and Susan Hiscock – Wanderer, which arrived on scene just before 12.30pm.

Yarmouth’s crew deployed their smaller Y-class lifeboat to assess the situation and safely transfer three of the five people onboard to Cowes lifeboat for return to shore.

Both lifeboat crews then worked together to steady the yacht and lay an anchor ahead of the rising tide.

Cowes lifeboat returned to station around 3pm, but was called back out at 4.30pm to reassess the vessel, which remained aground with a 30-degree list.

With the tide rising, crews were able to board the yacht, check the welfare of the remaining two people onboard and ensure the boat was watertight before securing it with a tow line.

By 6.45pm, the yacht began to float once more, and with its engine running, it was safely escorted back to Trinity Landing in Cowes, arriving around 8.15pm.

Yarmouth RNLI mechanic Richard Gregory-Pimm praised the yacht’s crew for calling for help promptly:

“No one goes to sea expecting to be rescued, and it’s easy to be caught out by the changing tides.

"It’s always a proud moment to see the teamwork between neighbouring lifeboat stations — it perfectly shows the one-crew spirit in action.”

Cowes RNLI helm Myles Hussey added:

“This incident highlights the importance of joint training and cooperation across Solent stations.

"The crews worked seamlessly together, and special recognition goes to Simon Banks, who recently qualified as Cowes boat crew — this was his very first shout.”

Both crews have since been stood down and their lifeboats declared ready for service once again.