Easter bank holiday 02/04/10 - 05/04/10

First things first....

A BIG thank you to all the crew that have been working tirelessly to get the numerous projects to a point of operational efficiency over the past few months.

Also a big thank you to all the people who collected / donated to us during our canshakes in February and March, this has helped to put us into a much better position for the start of the season.  Also, thanks to the John Lewis Partnership for funds allocated to fix our lookout roof.

It has been a busy time and we are now glad to be getting on with the primary role of the unit, Maritime Rescue in and around the Western Solent.

Operational Activity

02-04-10 - Crew signed the vessel on but due to adverse mooring conditions, a launch upon request status was put in place.  No incidents occurred and Solent Rescue closed down without incident.

03-04-10 - Vessel was signed on and went on patrol in the Western Solent, returned to station without incident and closed down at the appropriate time.

04-04-10 - Due to crew mix, a training day was initiated, crew practiced launching, recovering, mooring, rope handling and alongside operation.  Informed the coastguard and continued to observe and provide SAR obs.  Lookout was closed at normal time without incident.

05-04-10 - Lookout opened and signed on at 08:30 and crew set about prepping the main vessel, during this time a small motor cruiser exiting the Beaulieu River ran onto Gull Island, Solent Rescue informed the Coastguard of issue and were launching.  Solent Rescue continued to observe whilst main lifeboat brought to launch position.  During this time the vessel managed to come free of its grounding and gingerly headed back to deeper water.  SR1 stood down.

Solent Rescue supplied the Coastguard with a launch upon request status, during this time, observations were carried out on a number of situations.  One being a vessel calling up engine failure but would continue under sail to a safe harbour and the other was a windsurfer who appeared to be becoming tired but made it ashore safely.  No intervention required on either issue.

Lookout closed down at normal time.