Sunday 8th May 2016. a telephone call was received by Guernsey Coastguard, from a member of the public, who believed they had seen a body floating in the water at the entrance to Vazon Bay. A subsequent second sighting appeared to indicate that, if it were a body, it had been in the water for some considerable time. St Peter Port Lifeboat, “The Spirit of Guernsey”, was launched to search the area.

The St Peter Port Lifeboat searched the area around Richmond while Police and Local Fishermen conducted a shoreline search of Vazon Bay, Richmond and Perelle Bay. With no further sightings and no reports of a missing person the search was suspended for the night.

Police returned to the area at first light to check the shoreline once more but nothing further was seen.

1633 A Call was received by Guernsey Coastguard from Air Traffic Control that a pilot on an inbound flight had spotted a Person supported by a Lifejacket in the water, one mile south from Pleinmont Point.

1637 Lifeboat Red + AirSearch Red.

1658 “Spirit of Guernsey” on scene in the reported location, starting search pattern.  Two local fishing boats, “Molly Ann” and “Prospect” assisting in the search.

1856 After an extensive search including the South Coast of Guernsey, Lihou, Rocquaine and as far north as Cobo in very clear and ideal conditions for the search; no trace could be found of the person or the lifejacket.  As there had been no persons reported missing and any vessels / yachts to have been in the area, the search has been called off.

1938 “ Spirit of Guernsey” returns to St Peter Port. AirSearch stood down.

St Peter Port lifeboat returning to port after the shout. Photo by Colin Le Conte

Lifeboat being refuelled ready for the next action. Photo by Colin Le Conte

Jason Norman, Deputy Coxswain at the wheel. Photo by Colin Le Conte

The search pattern from last night’s search. Data provided by Digimap

Saturday, 12th March 2016 evening, Guernsey Coastguard received a telephone call from “Catch U Later” advising that they had run out of fuel and were unsure of their position. The Pilot Boat “St Sampson” made an initial attempt to locate “Catch U Later”, whilst preparing to transfer a pilot to “Jaynee W”, but without success.

The St Peter Port Lifeboat “The Spirit of Guernsey” was launched and located “Catch U Later” in the Little Russel before towing her safely back to St Peter Port.

Pic by Tony Rive 12-03-16
The Spirit of Guernsey refuelling back in port after the 2nd shout in 24 hours. Two of the 4 Man Crew walk off the St Peter Port Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey after they had been rescued in their Motor Cruiser west of Tauteney Beacon after they had run out of Fuel somewhere between Herm and St Sampson’s Harbour. The fast flowing northerly tide pushed their craft swiftly north before the Lifeboat men found them.

Catch U Later having been towed back to St Peter Port – picture by Tony Rive

Catch U Later having been towed back to St Peter Port – picture by Tony Rive

Catch U Later having been towed back to St Peter Port – picture by Tony Rive