Friday, November 21, 2008
Skip Navigation LinksHome

FOURTEEN RESCUED IN YACHT DRAMA

By County Press Reporter - Sunday, July 1, 2007
THE skipper of a sinking yacht used a mobile phone to call in a dramatic helicopter rescue from the upturned hull for all 14 people aboard on Saturday.
The 45ft yacht Bounder apparently broke its keel, lost stability and overturned two and-a-half miles south-east of St Catherine's Point.
When the skipper called 999, at 1.30pm, all 14 crew were on the upturned hull of the slowly-sinking vessel.
Solent Coastguard scrambled their Whiskey Bravo helicopter, and Bembridge RNLI's all-weather lifeboat and Ventnor Coastguard rescue team were also sent to the scene.
The helicopter winched all the Bounder's crew off the hull before it sank and took them to the Lee on Solent base, where they were given hot drinks.
None needed medical attention.
The crew had been clinging to the hull for around half an hour but although they were said to be very cold, none was suffering from hypothermia, a Coastguard spokesman said.