LIFEBOAT stations across the Isle of Wight launched a total of 142 times last year, according to figures released by the RNLI.
Cowes lifeboat station launched 52 times helping 52 people and spent a total of 244.03 hours at sea; Bembridge launched 51 times and went to the aid of 69 people spending 572.61 hours at sea and Yarmouth launched 39 times helping 71 people and spending 468.63 hours at sea in 2011.
Across the coasts of the Isle of Wight, Hampshire and Sussex, a total of 990 launches took place, helping 1,054 people with Eastbourne in East Sussex being the fourth busiest lifeboat station in the UK.
Nationally, close to 18 per cent of lifeboat call-outs last year were due to machinery failure with 60 per cent of these calls to powered leisure craft, 23 per cent to sail pleasure craft and 13 per cent to fishing vessels.
The charity is also hoping to spend a total of £46,000 replacing lifejackets at the 15 stations across the Isle of Wight, Hampshire and East Sussex and is launching a fundraising drive to pay for them.
Andrew Ashton, divisional inspector for the RNLI East Division, said: "These figures show our lifeboat crews were once again involved in a great many rescues on the seas around the south east of England — nearly 1,000 incidents where people were in distress.
"From capsized rowing vessels to stranded kayakers, from drowning pets to broken-down motorboats, from walkers cut off by the tide to sea anglers caught out in bad weather, our crews launch to whoever is in trouble, whenever they are in trouble."
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk