Historic Lifeboat Rescue: Selsey and Bembridge Lifeboats to the Rescue
A solo sailor in trouble on a 99-year-old ex-RNLI lifeboat sparked a dramatic rescue mission off the Sussex coast. The vintage vessel, a 60ft Barnett class lifeboat built in 1923, sent out a Mayday after the skipper was injured and struggling to control his craft.
Emergency Mayday and Lifeboat Launch
The UK Coastguard got the distress call from roughly five miles south of Chichester Harbour. Bembridge Lifeboat, the nearest all-weather lifeboat (ALB), was scrambled immediately but couldn’t locate the distressed vessel. The skipper later admitted he was unsure of his exact position but thought he had drifted further east.
That’s when Selsey Lifeboat was called in. Launching at 2.02am, Selsey ALB used advanced Direction Finding (DF) gear to pinpoint the craft’s bearing. Soon both Bembridge and Selsey lifeboats closed in, arriving on scene by 2.18am in moderate seas and a south-westerly force 4 wind under clear skies.
Two Crews, One Heroic Rescue
Bembridge crewmen boarded the vessel to assess the injured skipper’s condition. They stayed aboard to tow the classic lifeboat back to Portsmouth Harbour, while Selsey ALB took charge of the casualty, setting course for Sparkes Marina in Chichester Harbour to meet awaiting paramedics.
The injured sailor was transferred to Selsey ALB at 2.55am. Upon arrival at Sparkes, the Hayling Coastguard Rescue Team escorted him to waiting ambulance crews, arriving about 15 minutes later. Selsey Lifeboat was back in port by 4.48am, ready for the next call. Bembridge reached Portsmouth by 6.10am.
Meet the Lifeboat Heroes & The Historic Vessel
Crew on duty:
- Coxswain James Albrey
- Mechanic Phil Pitham
- Colin Pullenger
- Will Moir
- Max Wiseman
- Tim Scott
Shore team:
- Head Launcher Simon Hutt
- SLARS Driver Chris Bowling
- Richard Wiseman
- Frank Corby
- Mark Penny
- Richard Brady
The rescued vessel is a Barnett class lifeboat ON-682, the RNLI’s first twin-engine, twin-propeller craft. Built in 1923 and stationed at New Brighton until 1950, its current owner plans to sail it all the way to South Africa. Photos show ON-682 leading the RNLI’s 100-year Thames flotilla in 1924, and another snapped about a decade ago, reminding us of a proud maritime heritage saved by today’s heroes.
