2006 News Archive

While most people leapt into diets, fitness regimes and ditching cigarettes at the start of this new year, others were taking the plunge in a very different way by swimming in the icy sea off Sandown Bay.

A score of plucky swimmers took the dip on New Year's Day to raise money for Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and the IW Youth Bowling Club.

The lifeboat was launched as swimmers took to the water, not only as a safety precaution, but also as a show of support.

They needed it. By the end, many participants could not feel their feet and did not regain feeling for several hours afterwards.

Despite this, the event now on its fourth year, was declared the most successful yet.

Strollers Cafe owner Bob Jackson, who organised the dip said: "This was by far our best year and we believe we have raised more than £850. The number of swimmers we had was around the same as last year (21), but support and sponsorship we have had has been outstanding".

Mr Jackson added "Congratulations and a well done must go to one of our youngest IW Youth Bowling Club member, Josh Page, who raised £350 on his own".

Despite his young age, he has consistently been the highest-raising individual swimmer , which is a fantastic effort on his part.

All the crew of Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to greatly thank Bob Jackson, Strollers Cafe staff and all participants for the support given to the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

Lake Working Mans Club held an Open Day for the general public on Saturday the 28th of January, Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat was invited to attended the Open Day with it's fundraising stall and to give safety advice to the public.

Several members of the Fundraising crew attended the day along with Mark Adam-Rose, the Training Officer of SSILB, Mark said "The event was busy with the general public showing a great interest with the lifeboat and what we do to help save lives at sea. The open day here at Lake Working Mans Club is to help give the general public a chance to see what is here for them and to bring in new people into the club. We look forward to being present at some of the events planned here over the next year and are grateful for the support the Lake Working Mans Club has given us".

A raffle was held by the SSILB fundraising crew and would like to thank the following companies for donating prizes for the raffle:

Brenda Hurst a local writer of the Island, has released the new novel 'The Jewel of the Wight', has been in contact with our Vice-chairman / 1st Coxswain Mark Birch about her new book and asked him to pay her a visit.

Mrs Hurst spoke with Mark over afternoon tea, biscuits and a copy of her new novel, they spoke about how times had changed here on the Island, the novel (Mark received a special signed version for him to keep) and that she would like to help support SSILB.

Mrs Hurst is going to help support SSILB by donating 50p per book that is sold of her new novel and hopes that she sells enough copies to aid us with our service to the south of the Island.

The book is on sale in local and major book stores across some Island book stores - Priced at £7.99.

"We would like to thank Mrs Hurst for her great support and a great read just before bed".

Crowds that watched the morning 'Rescue' by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team can be reassured the mammal came to no harm in Sandown Bay.

The 'Dolphin' was a realistic plastic training aid, 'rescued' from a beaching by the team of seven divers.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue staged the exercise with Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and both units also staged another exercise in the afternoon covering first aid.

Diver Dave Evans said: "Quite a few people believed the incidents where real, but it was a valuable training for real life incidents.".

Both Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue crews

05-Jun-2006

By Pat Glover

This event is one of a series of fourteen Championship Regattas held under the rules and regulations of the Hants and Dorset Amateur Rowing Association each year, in the area from Southseato Swanage. The Association provides the umpires, starters and judges for these events and the winners in each status gain points toward the Hants and Dorset Annual Championships.

The event attracted an entry of over eighty crews from twelve clubs who stayed on the Island for the weekend together with their supporters and officials.

The event was rowed in quite suitable conditions, there being a light westerly wind and although the water was rough at times at the turning bouys all of the crews coped very well. It was not very enjoyable for the spectators however, due to the cold mist that came in just after the events started.

The only incident was with a young ladies coxed fours crew who overturned due to an equipment failure, and the Sandown Shanklin Inshore Rescue, who were covering the Regatta, were applauded
for the speed of their response as they had the situation under control in what seemed seconds.

The home clubs best performance came from the steadily improving mens novice four of Chris Kingswell, Ed Heaney, Paul
Grattage and James Thompson, coxed by Garry Burch, who
following good rows at the Southampton Head and Ryde Regatta came third in the Novice final at Shanklin.

The programme was completed to time and the prizes were presented by Shanklin Town Mayor and IW Councillor David Williams.

The Shanklin Rowing Club appreciates the support given by Shanklin Town Council, Sandown Shanklin Inshore Rescue and Ivan Jeffrey for supplying the Umpires boat for our event.

Businesses that assisted us were WJ Nigh, Arthur Wheeler, Wight Tile, Coastline, Island Ales, Regent Holidays, Sheppard and Hale, Shanklin News, Shanklin Rotary and Baileys.

Results (From 1st to 3rd): Mens Senior Fours: BTC, Ryde, Itchen
Imperial. J/S Fours: Ryde, Southsea, Southampton.
Junior Fours: Itchen A, BTC, Itchen B.
Novice Fours: Southsea, Ryde, Shanklin.
Ladies Senior Fours: Southsea, Poole, Coalporters.
Ladies Junior Fours: Southsea, Ryde, BTC. Ladies Novice Fours:
Westover, Composite, Worthing.
Mens Senior Pairs: Lymington
A, Southampton, Lymington B.
Mens Junior Pairs: Itchen A,
Christchurch, Itchen C.
Mens Senior Single Sculls: Ryde (Nick Pike), Ryde, Itchen.
Mens Junior Single Sculls: Itchen, Coalporters, Poole. Mens Novice Single Sculls: Southampton B, Itchen, Southampton A.

Please CLICK HERE for the Thank You card that was sent to SSILB from the rowers.

Here at Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to praise Dave Scovell and Graham Potter for their fast thinking to help save the lives of the four crew in this incident.

SSILB helped over see the capsized vessel into Ventnor Haven, with the efforts of the harbour master vessel and the fishing vessel that picked the 4 casualties out of the water.

SSILB then assisted on re-righting the vessel, then removing the vessel from sea with help from the harbour master and Ventnor Coastguard.

Four "certainly would've drowned" but for Ventnor sea rescue Local fisherman comes to aid of sunken boat.

Ventnor Coastguard says four people have defied heavy odds and are lucky to be alive after their boat sank last night near Bonchurch. In failing light - they had no lifejackets, safety flares or a radio to call for help - and it was only luck that they were spotted.

Local fisherman Dave Scovell happened to spot the upturned boat with the four clinging to its hull from his seafront home. He launched his own fishing boat and came to their rescue before bringing them ashore and going back out to help with the recovery of the boat.

Ventnor Coastguard says the boat appeared to be overloaded and that the skipper had seriously endangered the lives of his crew by not having any safety equipment on board.

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FOUR people escaped drowning by minutes after they were dramatically plucked from the sea off Bonchurch as hypothermia was beginning to overwhelm them.

The four had been clinging to their upturned boat for nearly half an hour before they were spotted by fisherman Dave Scovell, who launched his own rescue to prevent what coastguards said could have been the IW's worst maritime disaster for a generation.

Though he managed to reach the four before they succumbed to the freezing conditions and lost grip on their 14ft fishing boat, one member, a woman, was kept in overnight for treatment at St Mary's Hospital, Newport.
After the rescue, Ventnor Coastguard criticised the fishing party for putting to sea without lifejackets, flares or radio.

Ventnor Coastguard spokesman Chris Welsford said given the failing light it was remarkable the four, from Shanklin and Ventnor, were spotted in time.
Mr Scovell, 65, raised the alarm after looking out from his home on Bonchurch beach and spotting them clinging to the hull — two in the water, two out — on Monday evening.
He then launched his own fishing boat and motored to the upturned vessel.
He said by the time he reached them, two were too overcome by cold to help themselves aboard.
"They were all shivering from core to stem. They could not help themselves," Mr Scovell said.
"There is no way they could have held on to their overturned boat for much longer, they were that exhausted.

Bonchurch fisherman Dave Scovell left, and Graham Potter, with Dave’s boat, in which he rescued four people. Picture by Chris Thwaites.

"The man and lady who were in the water were especially cold. They really were quite poorly."
Mr Scovell motored them ashore where his wife, Janet, waited with neighbours, including Graham Potter, of Bonchurch Forge, and Rachael Smith, of the Horseshoe Bay Hotel, who along with staff provided blankets.

When Mr Scovell returned from retrieving the boat an ambulance was also on the scene.
It is believed the fishing party set out from Ventnor Haven but got into difficulty off Luccombe as their 14ft boat was swamped in slightly choppy seas caused by an easterly wind.
Mr Welsford said: "Without Mr Scovell and Mr Potter, they would almost certainly have drowned.
"The fishing boat was overloaded and the skipper had failed to provide any safety equipment for himself and the crew.

"All these factors contributed to what could have been one of the worst maritime tragedies the Island has seen for a generation".

"The chances of survival in the sea without a lifejacket are slim at the best of times but add to that the strong currents and whirpools that exist in that area, as well as the cold water, and it is clear these people had a very lucky escape."

Mr Welsford said lessons needed to be learned from the incident with equipment such as lifejackets, flares and VHF radio being essentials rather than options.

"The incident shows what can happen when individuals have no regard for their safety or the safety of others."

At 4am this coming Sunday the 18^th of June Chris Welsford, from Ventnor Coast Guard, is going to be walking round the Isle of Wight.

The walk is a 72.5-mile endurance march from Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat Station (Sandown) to Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat Station (Sandown) via the Isle of Wight Coastal Paths, going clockwise.

Weather permitting he & his team will set of at 4am on Sunday aiming to return before midnight the same day.

He has a support team which will be following him collecting money in a silver Renault Scenic.

SSILB crew would like to wish Chris good luck and to let him know we will all be thinking of him as he takes on the massive marathon again.

At 4am this morning, Sunday the 18^th of June, Chris Welsford started walking around the Isle of Wight, some of the crew from Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat went along to help see him off.

A coastguard is patrolling the entire shoreline of the Isle of Wight for charity today. Chris Welsford from Ventnor is walking clockwise round the Island to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat. He started from the lifeboat station at 4.00am this morning and is due to finish the 72-mile trek at around 10.00pm tonight.

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WALKER CHRIS SETS A BLISTERING PACE

22nd June 2006

By Lori Little

SPEED-WALKER Chris Welsford was brought to a halt by blisters when he attempted to walk 72.5 miles in 18 hours.

He had to abandon his charity trek after 60 miles when his feet became too raw to continue.
But the pain was not in vain, however, as he enjoyed most of the walk and has also raised more than £1,000 so far for two charities.

Set to benefit from his efforts are Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

Chris Welford on his epic walk. Picture by Georgia Russell.

Chris Welsford on his epic walk. Picture by Georgia Russell.

His endurance march clockwise around the Island's coastal paths started from Sandown Inshore Rescue at 4am on Saturday and ended 12.5 miles short at Ryde Inshore Rescue.

Chris, 42, of Dudley Road, Ventnor, first tried to complete the walk at speed two years ago and had to abort at 60 miles because of problems with his knees.

He had some specialist insoles made but he thinks it was these that gave him blisters, the first time he has ever suffered with them.

He said: "High-speed walking is a sport and to do 72 miles in 18 hours is going some. It is the speed of world champions and it is hard but I always enjoy it and that is why I do it."
Chris, a financial adviser and member of the Ventnor Coastguard Team, hopes to attempt the challenge again in September.

SSILB would like to make sure that the following message is passed onto the general public and would also like to agree with the MCA statement in 'urge the general public to use common sense while enjoying our coast'.

TOMB STONING CAN COST YOU YOUR LIFE!

Solent Coastguard have been involved with multiple incidents today involving people jumping into the water, commonly known at tomb stoning resulting in serious injuries.

Mike Greiner, Watch Manager, Solent Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, says:

We are concerned at the apparent rise in this dangerous activity which has resulted in serious and potentially life threatening incidents to two members of the public.

We would like to remind the public how dangerous tomb stoning is. It is very hard to judge the depth of water due to swell and sea conditions. Serious injuries often resulting in loss of life are often sustained when hitting the seabed or an underwater obstruction. We advise people to take care in the sea and not to take unnecessary risks.

If you see anyone in trouble on the coast or at sea call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

We urge the public to use common sense while enjoying our coast.

We're being warned not to risk our lives by jumping into the sea from dangerous heights on the Island.

Solent Coastguard says it's already been called to several cases of so-called tomb stoning - that's where people jump off high coastal areas into the water.

But with rocks and rubbish often below the surface, we could end up with spinal, neck and head injuries - or even be killed.

The Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat Website is one today, this time last year the website went live on the World Wide Web and has clocked a healthy 84542 Hit's within the year.

Richard Chantler, the webmaster for the website said "The website has grown really fast, faster than what I thought it would and also the amount of hits we have had within the first year of going live is amazing.

The website will be growing even more over the following months, with new features coming onto the website like video footage of training exercises and other new top secret thing's in the pipeline".

The website has now got an 85% full time followers, that have added the site to their favourites and below are the countries that view www.sandownlifeboat.com

Great Britain, United States, European Union, Canada, Germany, Israel, Denmark, France, Taiwan, Panama, Australia, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Poland, United Arab Emirates, China, Brazil, Singapore, Russian Federation, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic, China, Norway and Slovenia to name just a few!

Man saved from drowning & two teenage girls were reported missing all within the same time - 21st of July 2006

A man has been rescued from drowning in the sea near Sandown Pier.

The crew of Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat say they were called just after 13.30pm on Thursday afternoon.

The 25-year-old man was pulled onto a pedal boat and was picked up by lifeguards who brought him to the shore. There, he was treated by paramedics before being taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Newport.

Also at the same time, two teenage girls were reported missing in a kayak.

Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and the Coastguard helicopter India Juliet searched the area.

The lifeboat picked up one of the girls and the other turned up safe on the beach.

A man was pulled to safety from the sea after reports of a man drowning off Sandown Pier on Thursday afternoon last week.

Several 999 calls were made to the Solent Coastguard along with others about two teenage girls reported missing in a kayak and spotted drifting out to sea.

The Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat launched and found the 25 year-old- man had been pulled onto a pedal boat.

The lifeboat crew was also informed of the location where the two girls were last seen and a man giving chase in another kayak.

The lifeboat found the kayak one mile off Yaverland with a 14 year-old girl and the man who had given chase.

After a 25 minute helicopter and lifeboat search her 12 year-old sister was found on shore.

With luck a lifeguard saw what happened and went into the water to get him out, but only managed to bring him ashore with the help of a fisherman.

The craze of jumping off rocks or piers is called 'tomb-stoning' - but Island officials tells us they're worried someone is going to be killed.

The Coastguard recently launched a campaign to stop the craze - saying it is 'very dangerous'.

The man was very lucky that he didn't suffer spinal injuries and could have been a very bad out come to what he thought was fun.

Serious injuries often resulting in loss of life are often sustained when hitting the seabed or an underwater obstruction.

If you see anyone in trouble on the coast or at sea call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

We urge the public to use common sense while enjoying our coast.

Lifeboats from Freshwater, Sandown and Cowes, as well as the Coastguard helicopter 'India Juliet' all helped in rescues.

These ranged from a crewman suffering chest pains to a boat that lost engine power.

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Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat web team would like to introduce a new section to the SSILB's website, the new section is called 'What Is It Like?' and contains great new info about Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

What is it like? is a new idea for our website, it will be a collection of mini documentaries about what we do, it will help you understand from a close, better prospective, rather than just seeing us out there from afar, you can experience what we do and all from the safety of your own seat.

'What is it like?' is also you chance to ask us questions and answer them on the website for you and everyone else to read.

The first question to be asked comes from Sarah Small, she has asked 'What is it like to be winched up into the Coastguard helicopter?'

Sarah's question has been answered and also with a video to view of an actual SAR helicopter, call sign 'India Juliet' exercise - click the above photo to be taken to the new section.

Do you have a question that we might be able to answer, if so why not drop us an E-mail asking the question(s) that you would like to see on this new section.

In the early hours of Sunday the 13th of August 2006, the crew of SSILB set up the fundraising stall for the busy day ahead and prepare the boathouse to be used the HQ for the pier to pier swim.

The sun came out just after mid-day, the sun helped to pull the holiday makers and local Islanders out to the sea front, where they started to relax and enjoy themselves.

The station started to get very busy as the pier to pier swimmers started to turn up and sign themselves into the pier to pier swim HQ (SSILB boathouse).

The pier-to-pier swim is the forerunner to Shanklin Regatta, which takes place in August and has been held for at least 47 years.

The swim starts from the side of Sandown Pier on the beach, then into the water and swimming out into the bay, across the bay to where the old Shanklin Pier used to be and the beach there is the finishing line.

The race is rapidly becoming one of the largest open water swims in the country, attracting first-rate swimmers from around the country, in 2005 around 75 took to the water in calm conditions and all completed the swim safely.

In 2006, 99 Swimmers took part and all swimmers completed the swim in moderate conditions safely.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to thank the public for their kind donations and hope the prize draw winners enjoy their prizes.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to greatly thank the following companies/businesses for their kind Donations - Island tyre company, The Ocean Deck Inn, Flanagan's, SJB's Garden Ornaments Inspirations and Ventnor Brewery for the support given to the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat at this years Sandown Regatta..

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would also like to thank the SSILB fundraising team, for their great support and hard work over the this years events.

In the early hours of Wednesday the 16th of August 2006, the crew of SSILB set up the fundraising stall for the busy day ahead, as like years before, we set up the stall just off the old clock and as there is a slipway for us to launch - we are still active on pager.

This did not stop people coming along, asking us about our service and having there photo taken on-board the Atlantic 21 .

The fundraising team did not let the weather get them down and actively sold raffle tickets for the big draw that evening.

As the day went along, the weather started to turn for the better, the sun came out and the people came out with it.

The hidden treasure map goes down a treat every year, with people wining money back depending what colour stick they pick out of the map and the younger fundraising team enjoy taking part.

With the better weather with us, the Coastguard SAR (Search and Rescue) helicopter 'India Juliet' and Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat display was put on for the general public.

Look a smoke flare has been set off out in Shanklin Bay, there is a person in distress in the water and they are waving for help.

The mobile Coastguard let off a maroon to signal for help from the lifeboat men.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and her crew launch to aid the person in distress.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat powers away from the shore to the location of the orange smoke.

Once Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat has recovered the person in distress, her crew checks over the casualty and calls for the help of 'India Juliet'.

Who winches the casualty on-board and would take the casualty to the nearest hospital - pending on the treatment needed.

'India Juliet' winches SSILB crew member Mike, down to Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat, as this is only an exercise and a great display of what both services do.

A fly by, power by, wave by, from Coastguard SAR helicopter 'India Juliet' and Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and their crews.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat new trainee crew member, Malcolm on his jet ski, offering fast safety cover and mock-casualty placement.

Marry Birch, Liz Dorling, 2006 fundraising officer: Shevette Adams-Rose, Beci Small, Avril and Albert Claxton.

The Regatta went on into the evening, but the weather turned and the event finished without the trademark Lifeboat flare display, which opened the fireworks display, as a wind had picked up and it was cancelled.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to thank the public for their kind donations and hope the prize draw winners enjoy their prizes.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to greatly thank the following people/companies/businesses for their kind donations - Ron Teasdale, Wight Aerials, The Heights, Ventnor Brewery, Co-op Shanklin for the support given to the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat at this years Shanklin Regatta..

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would also like to thank the SSILB fundraising team, for their great support and hard work over the years events.

Judges were so busy with entries for the sand-modelling competition (the traditional opener to the day) that extra plots had to be set up.

Efforts ranged from the more conventional maritime-inspired creatures to the television programme Big Brother.

Although rain clouds threatened to mar the early part of the day, the weather quickly cleared and crowds of spectators and competitors descended on the shore sports area.

For the eighth successive year the ladies of the Somerville Hotel claimed the women's tug-of-war title.
"Last year we won because there were no other ladies' teams competing, so it was nice to have someone to pull against this year," said captain Fiona Cooper.
"And there's the incentive of a bottle of wine at the end of it."

In the men's competition Shanklin's retained fire-fighters, complete with Fire Service mascot Welephant as anchor, won a hard-fought final against the Aqua Hotel.

Fulham girl Jordan Cullen scooped the highly-prized title of Shanklin Regatta Queen and the £150 first prize.
Despite declaring Greece as her favourite holiday spot the judging panel of Shanklin mayor Graham Nichols, his wife Marion, Shanklin Chine owner Anne Springman, president of Shanklin Hotel and Accommodation Association Derek Pegram and businessman Derek Bailey chose the 16-year-old ahead of the field of 17.

Shanklin Regatta Queen 2006, Jordan Cullen leads the parade of title contenders. Picture by Chris Thwaites.

"I don't know why I said Greece — I haven't even been there. I'm down here visiting my nan, Sue Beilby, and I come to the Island about four times a year. I really like it here," said beauty therapy student Jordan.

Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Rescue capped a busy day of fundraising with a display featuring the coastguard SAR helicopter 'India Juliet'.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat crew members, left to right, Richard Chantler, Daren Sands and a new crew member helming the Atlantic 21.

Shanklin Regatta chairman Nan Shaw praised the efforts of all involved in the event, which this year included Liz and Phil Alchin, who took over running the swimming events.
"There was a very good crowd down here and the weather picked up in the afternoon," Mrs Shaw said.
"There has been a lot of support from local businesses and there is a very good team of people who have helped to organise it.".
Unfortunately, high winds led to the cancellation of the firework display in the evening.

Due to bad weather Ventnor Regatta 2006 was cancelled and Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to thank the crew, fundraising team and general public that turned up for the day.

A plane crashed on the beach in front of our station with one person on board, he was pulled to safety by the crew of the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat who happened to be on station, the boat was not launched as the plane was in the surf and the casualties were treated by us until the paramedics arrived and were found to be with no injuries.

The plane was towed out of the water by our tractor unit above the high water line.

4th of September 2006

A pilot taking part in the Schneider Trophy was forced to crash-land his plane.

The aircraft came down on Sandown beach yesterday afternoon outside Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat Station after the pilot radioed in to say he had a problem with his engine.

No-one was on the beach at the time and the emergency landing was described as 'textbook' by Schneider Trophy organisers.

The plane - which was later towed away by Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat tractor unit - was virtually undamaged.

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A pilot competing in the 75th anniversary Schneider Air Race, had a lucky escape when he had to crash land his plane on Sandown beach.

The Beagle Pup aircraft ended up on the shore after engine problems forced an emergency landing.

The pilot – London man Ivan Sech-Allen – escaped unharmed and no-one on the ground was injured when the plane ditched mid-afternoon on Sunday.

The tow-tractor from Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat pulled the plane clear of the water where it was inspected.

Meanwhile, the weekend event had to cancel all events on Saturday and had to postpone Sunday’s race due to weather conditions, however the overall winner was Martin Kellett in a Rally aircraft with Rodger Hayes in a Beagle Pup coming second.

A plan crash-landed on a seashore on Sunday after engine failure during a prestigious air race.

The pilot was taking part in the 75th Schneider Trophy on the Isle of Wight when the engine cut out shortly after take-off.

The pilot managed to steer the light aircraft to the safety of Sandown Bay before landing on the beach.

The Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat crew rescued the man and tow the plane to safety, away from the incoming tide.

A spokesman for Solent Coastguard said nobody was injured and that the plane was only slightly damaged.

THE SKILL of a Schneider Trophy pilot who made an emergency landing on the beach at Sandown has been praised by police and race organisers.

London-based Ivan Seach-Allen struggled against high winds to land his single engine Beagle Pup plane between breakwaters in the shallows off Sandown on Sunday.

He had been returning to Bembridge Airport when he experienced engine failure forcing him to ditch.

Witnesses and race marshals said they could hear the engine difficulties while Mr Seach-Allen - a Schneider Trophy winner in 2001 - was in the air.

It is the second time the Londoner has had to make emergency landing during a show having brought his plane down at Lydd Airport, Kent, in 1998.

But while his calmness at the weekend was praised, Mr Allen said it was the emergency services on the Island who deserved credit.

"The people from air traffic control, police, fire brigade, ambulance and Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat are the ones who deserve the praise for all their help and professionalism. They are a credit to the Island," Mr Allen said.

The ditched aircraft on Sandown beach. Taken by Mark Birch 1st Coxswain Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

Playing down his part, he said: "I didn't do much to bring the plan down. Gravity, with a little bit of modification, did that for me."

His only choice was to pick a spot for landing that was not fair out to sea to avoid hitting a groyne but near enough to the shore.

"He is a very accomplished pilot," said Martin Johnston," treasurer of Schneider Trophy race organisers Royal Aero Club.
"These sorts of landings are all part of the training but it is quite another thing doing it for real."
Mr Johnston said there were other factors about Sunday afternoon's landing that made the feat all the more difficult.

Not only were pilots not keen to get their feet wet, the landing had to be judged precisely between two breakwaters in blustery conditions.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Clark said the beach at Sandown had been clear at the time of the incident.
"Mr Seach-Allen, who is a professional helicopter pilot, showed extraordinary calmness to bring the plane down safely," he said.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch would launch a routine probe into the incident, he said.
Mr Seach-Allen, who was unhurt, was helped from the plane by Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat crew members.

The plan came to rest in a metre of water directly opposite Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat Station.

Coxswain Mark Birch said: "This is the first time someone has come directly to us to be rescued. We (Mark Birch & Mike Downes) Waded out to him (the pilot) and helped him out and took him to our Station to be checked over by one of the crew.

He was so calm and collected. The way he managed to land the plan in those conditions without injuring anyone or himself was excellent."

Under the guidance of the IW Fire & Rescue Service, the lifeboatmen towed the plane ashore and placed the plan outside of their station.

The plan was driven away from the scene by lorry on Monday the 4th of September.

Little Noddy Holder from IOWradio, put Alex Dyke's ( AKA Big Al from the mid morning boogie) Doug the Dogs Milk Tooth (that he lost whilst chewing Brummie Sue's shoe laces) on E-Bay and the auction raised £100.00 for The Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat Station.

Doug has been with Alex, in the studio for a while now and listeners will his his barks in the background if you tune in.

Little Noddy and Brummie Sue said on their website "The Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat Station rely upon public donations in order to provide the Bostin service that they do, please take time to visit their web site and find out for yourself how important is the work that they do on a voluntary basis".

Please visit Little Noddy Holders Website, where you can download some of his songs, order a Little Noddy Holder CD (All profits to the New Baby Unit at St Marys Hospital and the Earl Mountbatten Hospice on the Isle of Wight), Little Noddy Holder Merchandise Including Badges, Polo Shirts and Ladies Skinny Tops.

Also on the website you will find the Noddy Cam photo's from Noddys and Brummie Sue visit to SSILB.

Coxwain Mark Birch, Shevette & Lauren Adams-Rose, Mike Downes, The Lucky Auction Winner Mr Colin Hall with his daughter Emily, Brummie Sue & Little Noddy.

Little Noddy Sits on the Cox's seat and Brummie Sue sits behind as a crew member for little noddy.

Little Noddy entertains everyone with his special balloons and makes animals for all.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to greatly thank Little Noddy Holder, Brummie Sue, Alex Dyke, his dog Doug the dog, Mr Colin Hall And His Family for their support given to the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

Also why not visit the IOW radio Website and listen out for Little Noddy on Big Al's Mid Morning Boogie show 11:00 > 15:00, by clicking the below logo:

Fairway Holiday Park Fundraising Night in Aid of Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat

Coronation Street star Bruce Jones, who plays Less Battersby, helped raise plenty of smiles and cash for an Island lifeboat at a charity auction on Saturday the 11th of November.

It was the third year he has travelled to the Island to take part in the Fairway Holiday Park auction in Sandown, in support of the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

The lifeboat, which is not funded by the RNLI, is entirely reliant on donations and this year's auction raised an essential £4,400.

Chris Williams, James, Bruce Jones, with auctioneer caller Mark Mitchell, raising funds for the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore lifeboat at the Fairway Holiday Park.

The cash, along with thousands raised last year, will go towards plans to develop the lifeboat station.

Organiser and holiday park owner Chris Williams said: "Bruce does not have a particular connection with Sandown, but I know him as a friend and he has been very supportive of the lifeboat. He uses the auction as a chance to take a bit of a holiday and he has already booked a slot in his calendar to do it again next year 2007".

"I run a flying school at the IW Airport, Sandown, and fly helicopters over the water all the time - it's nice to know that if there's an accident, there will be a lifeboat there to get me out of trouble."

Great Live performances from local artist where among the events of the appeal night and went down a treat with the crowd.

and makes sure that the lifeboat crew get involved with the action - 'Just one corneto' Garry!

All the crew at Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to greatly thank the Fairway Holiday Park staff, Bruce Jones, Mark Mitchell for the great night and support given to the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

Crowd on Sandown sea front, all to pay respect to those who fell and served for our country.

A wreath was laid at sea by Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat, as well as land at Sandown's Remembrance Day service, more than 600 people attended the service and some of the crowd had came on holiday just for the service.

The service at the seafront war memorial was organised by Sandown Town Council and was led by the Rev Chris Feak, Vicar of St John's Church and Christchurch.

A parade led by the Medina Marching Band marched to the Esplanade via the town centre, accompanied by members of Ryde Sea Cadets, including Able Cadet, James Hiscock, Able Cadet Antony Maretic, Ordinary Cadet Lauren Sheaf and Ordinary Cadet Chelsea Ward, who stood to attention at each corner of the war memorial.

SSILB crew member Richard Chantler (Right) hands the Lifeboat Wreath to a Sea Cadets.

The start of the two minutes' silence was marked by a maroon fired from Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Rescue's RIB and afterwards the crew laid a wreath on the water in memory of those lost at sea.

SSILB crew member Darren Sands collects the Wreath from children of Sandown and is then laid at sea.

The Last Post and Reveille were played by the Medina Marching Band Bugler, who went on to play later in the afternoon at Gurnard's service.

After the seafront ceremony an inter-denominational service was held at St John's Church, organised by the Churches Together.

Hymns were played by Sandown and Shanklin Military Band and the service was taken by Mr Feak.

Each player paid £1 to enter and compete for a £200 first prize donated by Stag landlord Gerry White.

Any cries of foul were silenced, however, when Gerry used the money to by drinks for the regulars.

Added to the cash raised from the pool competition, which is now going to be a annual event in the Stag Inn, were the proceeds from Christmas draw for prizes donated by Island businesses.