On Air Now Nick Osborne 10:00am - 3:00pm Rihanna - Only Girl Schedule

Cowes Lifeboat Searches Solent for Drifting Speedboat

Cowes RNLI (stock image).

Reports of a drifting and smoking 20-foot speedboat carrying four people without lifejackets led to the launching of Cowes RNLI lifeboat last night (Sunday).

The lifeboat was launched at 8.10pm.

Although the vessel was apparently somewhere between Cowes and Calshot, the lifeboat’s initial search proved fruitless, and passing vessels including a cruise ship were subsequently radioed for help.

Finally, one of Red Funnel’s passenger catamarans reported seeing the craft near the entrance to Hamble River.

The lifeboat found the speedboat making three or four knots, with two men and two women on board; two of the people were soaking wet, having previously fallen overboard.

A man and women were taken to a slipway on the River Itchen where they had a car.

Finally, the lifeboat returned to the speedboat and towed it to a trailer in the River Itchen, where it was met by Hillhead coastguards.

A Southampton harbour board vessel was also in attendance.

The lifeboat returned to station at 10.30pm.

More from Isle of Wight News