Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat

involved in AIR & SEA rescue, as Jet Ski is spotted drifting off

of White Cliff Bay with no one on-board.

29th of June 2008

After a long day afloat covering the Around the Island Race, Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat received 5 tasking to assist vessels within the race, once they had returned back to their boathouse, SSILB crews re-fuelled and wash Down the Atlantic 21.

The crew who was on the boat for the day ordered some food from their local cafe and awaited their first hot meal of the day.

But they did not have time to eat as someone was in need of their help once more.....

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat called at the station via VHF to an Immediate.

SSILB was tasked to a report of a dinghy drifting off of White Cliff Bay, with 2 children on-board and were in need of Immediate assistance.

SSILB was launched and made way straight for White Cliff Bay.

Coastguard Helicopter 'Whiskey Bravo' was scrambled to assist.

Bembridge & Ventnor Coastguard teams were also tasked.

Arriving on scene SSILB crew spotted a Yellow Jet ski floating off of White Cliff Bay.

On scene SSILB was requested to do a coastal search to see if the dinghy had managed to get back to shore, that there was now 2 incidents on-going within the same area, there were reports of the dinghy drifting off of White Cliff Bay, with 2 children on-board and also a Yellow Jet ski with no one on-board and was also being taken off out to sea.

SSILB reported back that their was no dinghy in the area, shore line, only fishermen and a RIB in the bay after a search.

SSILB was then requested to assist in anything that CGH 'WB' wanted investigating and that the 2 incidents could be just one - but SCG was awaiting confirmation.

CGH 'WB' arrived on scene, drop an orange smoke on the Jet ski and SSILB went over to the Jet ski to investigate - which was now 1 mile off Bembridge Ledge.

SSILB found that the kill cord was missing and belongings in the stowage area.

CGH 'WB' started to carry out an aerial search and the Bembridge RNLI All Weather Lifeboat was tasked.

SSILB joined in searching from White Cliff Bay out to sea.

SCG then confirmed that the tasking was for the Jet Ski only and to concentrate a search for the missing person or persons.

After several mins, a report then came in that 2 men had swam back to Yaverland Sailing club, reporting that they had fallen of there jet ski and could not get back to there jet ski.

This was confirmed with the Bembridge Coastguard team and the search was stood down.

SSILB then towed the Jet ski Back to Yaverland Sailing Club and handed it over to the owner.

SSILB then returned to SSILB station, SSILB informed SCG that we had returned back to our station, SCG return SSILB crew back to pagers, SSILB crew re-fuelled and wash Down the Atlantic 21.

This time the crew managed to eat their food, just not as hot as hot as it was cooked.

The Jet Ski on tow by SSILB, CGH 'WB' hovers over SSILB to make sure everything was ok and then they made their way back to their base at Lee-on-Solent.