A small orange boat that vanished off Dorset has been found drifting over 60 nautical miles away near Sussex. Volunteer crews from the RNLI at Littlehampton sprang into action after a report of a mysterious object bobbing 200 metres offshore from Rustington.
Coast Guard Spots Abandoned Vessel in Rough Seas
The alert came just after 8am on Saturday, March 4, when HM Coastguard flagged the drifting boat. The Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team quickly located the bright orange dinghy — empty, engine missing, and showing no signs of recent use. Facing choppy waves and rising south-westerly winds ahead of Storm Dave, the RNLI launched their D-Class inshore lifeboat, Spirit of Fidelity, to investigate. With a four-person crew onboard, they confirmed the boat was abandoned and began recovery efforts.
Rescue Team Battles Tough Conditions to Bring ‘Izzy’ Home
Two coastguard officers suited up in full water PPE and waded into the sea to help bring the boat closer to shore. They bailed out seawater before towing it safely into Littlehampton Harbour, where crews secured the vessel for its owners. It soon emerged that the lost workboat, dubbed “Izzy,” belongs to a Sandbanks water sports company near Poole. The mischievous craft had been pushed into the sea by children and left to drift for four days, travelling all the way east along the south coast before being spotted.
RNLI Warns of Sea Currents After Dramatic Discovery
Chris King, Launch Authority, said: “We were thrilled to reunite Izzy with her owners. This incident shows just how powerful and unpredictable tides and currents can be.” He added the case is a clear warning to anyone heading out on the water to always check tidal and current conditions carefully.
