The Bembridge RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) sprang into action on New Year’s Day, responding to a distress call with remarkable swiftness and expertise. Their dedicated crew launched RNLB Alfred Albert Williams, known as the Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17, at 6:13 pm in response to a call from the UK (Solent) Coastguard.
The urgent call for assistance came from a 72-foot ex-round-the-world training yacht, which was on its way back to Portsmouth from Poole. The yacht had six crew members on board and had encountered a harrowing situation. They reported engine failure and were taking on water perilously close to Gilkicker Point.
