**We may not be able to publish every Shout due to its sensitive nature**
Shout #12
RNLB Alfred Albert Williams was launched this morning (Monday 15 April) at 8.58 am at the request of UK (Solent) Coastguard to assist a kite surfer who was reported as being in difficulty off Eastney Beach.
Portsmouth RNLI were also tasked to launch as soon as they were on service at just after 9.00 am.
At around 9.12 am the kite surfer was reported to have self-recovered and was safely back on the beach so both boats were stood down.
The Alfred Albert Williams returned to the Offshore Boathouse and was recovered by 9.45 am.
Chimet was showing a Westerly Force 7 so it was quite bouncy mid-Solent.
Shout #11
RNLB Norman Harvey (D-Class Inshore Lifeboat D-778) was re-launched this evening (Saturday 30 March) at 7.45 pm at the request of UK (Solent) Coastguard to investigate a report of three 'unusual' white lights that had been seen at the western end of Whitecliff Bay. With conditions being pretty benign, it did not take them long to reach the search area and conclude that the lights were probably those of 3 anglers (who they had a chat with) fishing off the rocks in the Black Rock area. Having double checked that there were definitely no other lights in the area, they were released and returned to Lane End and were recovered by 9 pm.
Shout #10
RNLB Alfred Albert Williams (Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17) and RNLB Norman Harvey (D-Class inshore lifeboat D - 778) were launched this morning (Saturday 30 March 2024) at around 11.45 am. Initially to carry out searches in the Whitecliff Bay and Priory Bay areas following the local Coastguard picking up a message of 'help me, help me'. Having completed a shoreline search of the Whitecliff Bay area, the Alfred Albert Williams spotted two people clearly in difficulty in the Black Rock 'mud' where others had been rescued earlier in the week. The Y boat was launched but by the time they reached the shore, the casualties had managed to extract themselves, however as access back to Whitecliff Bay was extremely difficult they were transferred in the Y boat to the Alfred Albert Williams and brought back to the Offshore Lifeboat Station. After an on-line consultation with a paramedic, the couple continued with their trip to the Isle of Wight.
In the meantime, the Norman Harvey, having carried out a shoreline search up to Sea View Yacht Club, became involved in assisting the local Coastguard teams and Fire Service in the rescue of a casualty stuck in the Nettlestone Point 'mud' where others had been rescued earlier in the week. As has now become the norm, they ferried Coastguard and Fire Service personnel and equipment to/from Old St Helens Church to where the casualty was located. Once finished with their shout, the Alfred Albert Williams was re-launched and deployed to the Nettlestone Point/Priory Bay area to provide additional support. Both boats were stood down at around 3.10 pm and returned to Lane End. The weather conditions were sunny with a Force 2 South South Easterly breeze.
Shout #8/9
RNLB Norman Harvey (D-Class Inshore Lifeboat D-778) and RNLB Alfred Albert Williams (Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17) were re-tasked this afternoon to assist another person who had become trapped in the blue slipper clay in almost exactly the same location as the person this morning. They also had a dog! A second person had managed to extricate themselves and were checked over by an Ambulance crew at Whitecliff Bay.
With the tide dropping both boats had to take a slightly more offshore route to get 'on scene'. Access along the shore was also easier for the Coastguard and Fire Service teams however the Norman Harvey still did a lot of ferrying from Whitecliff Bay.
As with the earlier shout, once the casualty had been freed by the Coastguard and Fire Service mud rescue teams, they was transferred in a stretcher by the Norman Harvey from the shore to the Alfred Albert Williams and brought back (along with their dog) to the Offshore Boathouse and handed over to the waiting Ambulance.
Shout #6/7
RNLB Norman Harvey (D-Class Inshore Lifeboat D-778) and RNLB Alfred Albert Williams (Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17) were launched this morning (Sunday 24 March) at the request of UK (Solent) Coastguard to assist the local Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge and Ventnor, along with appropriately trained teams from the Fire Service teams, rescue a casualty (and their dog) who was stuck in the mud to the west of Whitecliff Bay. Access to where the casualty was from the shore by the local Coastguard Rescue Teams and Fire Service was extremely difficult and it took some time to ferry them from the slipway in Whitecliff Bay to where the casualty was located.
Eventually freed from the mud by the members of the Coastguard and Fire Service, they were transferred in a stretcher (along with their dog who was fine) to the Alfred Albert Williams and brought back to the Offshore Lifeboat Station where they were handed over to the on-scene Ambulance Commander and the waiting Ambulance. The Alfred Albert Williams was released at around 12.30 pm and the Norman Harvey a bit later once she had finished ferrying members of the Coastguard and Fire Service back to Whitecliff Bay. Weather conditions were good (sunny with a NW F4 breeze).
Shout #5
At 10.35 am (Sunday 17 March), UK (Solent) Coastguard tasked our
RNLB Norman Harvey
(D-Class Inshore Lifeboat D-778)
They provided safety cover. This was for the Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team. A package had washed up to the west of Ryde Pier, close to Quarr Abbey.
The Norman Harvey arrived on the scene at 11.00 am after a choppy ride. Bembridge CRT told them to stay within a 100m cordon.
They were to act as water safety until the Police decided what to do next. The Police checked the package and confirmed it was safe.
The Norman Harvey was stood down at 12.30 pm and arrived back at the lifeboat station at 1 pm. We only provided water safety cover. So, we have no more details.
Shout #4
RNLB Norman Harvey (D-Class Inshore Lifeboat D-778) got a page at 11.48 am today (Friday 15 March). They were on scene at 12.06 pm at the request of UK (Solent) Coastguard.
They were there to help the local Coastguard Rescue Teams. The teams were from Bembridge and Ventnor. They also helped the Fire and Ambulance services. They were to transport 15 people and equipment. The area was unreachable, in Priory Bay. There were two walkers trapped in mud there. One person had escaped. The other needed help. The Norman Harvey transported the two casualties. It took them to a waiting ambulance for treatment. Teams and equipment took and returned from the RV point at St Helens church mark. They had to make many trips to and from the incident site. This was due to the number of people and amount of equipment.
The Norman Harvey returned to Lane End at 2pm. The crew had to do a thorough wash down of the boat.
The Norman Harvey returned to Lane End at 2pm where a through wash down had to be completed of the boat and the crew.
Shouts #2/3
02/01/24 / 03/01/24, RNLB Norman Harvey (D Class Inshore Lifeboat D-778 was tasked on Wednesday and Thursday 5/4th January 2024) at the request of UK (Solent) Coastguard to assist the Police and local Coastguard Rescue Teams (Bembridge and Ventnor) searching for the missing person. After an initial search of the immediate area by the Norman Harvey and local Coastguard Rescue Team members, a joint wading search was conducted with the Norman Harvey providing safety cover.
Members of Bembridge RNLI's All-Weather Lifeboat crew were also deployed in dry suits.
SHOUT #1
RNLB Alfred Albert Williams (Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17) was launched at 6.13pm this evening (New Years day - Monday 1 January 2024) at the request of UK (Solent) Coastguard to locate and assist a 72 foot ex-round the world training yacht that was on her way back to Portsmouth from Poole with 6 crew onboard - that had reported her engine had failed and she was taking in some water south of Gilkicker Point.
Gosport & Fareham Inshore Lifeboat was already on scene and had transferred one of their crew onboard the yacht. It did not take the Alfred Albert Williams long to reach yacht and having assessed the options it was decided to put her under tow to Gosport Marina (subsequently changed to Gunwharf Marina).
Conditions were very challenging in the Force 7 gusting Force 8 WSW'erly and heavy rain. Once inside Portsmouth Harbour the astern tow was changed to an alongside tow and having safely berthed the yacht alongside at Gunwharf, the Alfred Albert Williams returned to Bembridge and was recovered by 8.30 pm.
Special thanks to Gosport & Fareham Inshore Lifeboat.