Lifeboat launched to assist grounded fishing vessel

At 0135 this morning (Tuesday 23rd February 2021) Guernsey Coastguard received a MAYDAY call from a fishing vessel that had run aground on rocks around Tautenay Beacon.

The St Peter Port All Weather Lifeboat, Spirit of Guernsey, was launched to assist.

The fishing vessel re-floated without assistance and, on sounding around the vessel, the vessel’s Skipper confirmed that there was no ingress of water or damage to propulsion and steering.

The fishing vessel returned to St Peter Port under its own power with the Lifeboat escorting her as a precaution.

At 0245 both vessels safely arrived in St Peter Port.

AIS tracking courtesy of Digimap

Swimmer in Difficulty – Havelet Bay

At 13:31 on Friday 19 February 2021, the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre (JESCC), received a telephone call from a member of the public stating that a man had jumped from the Castle Emplacement sea wall into Havelet Bay and was struggling in the rough conditions.

Police and Coastguard officers were dispatched to the scene immediately and both the St Peter Port all weather lifeboat (ALB) and inshore lifeboat (ILB) were paged to launch.

On hearing Guernsey Coastguard’s ‘MAYDAY RELAY’ message the Polar Research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough, which at the time was south of St Martins point, offered the assistance of one of its Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) however, Police officers had already been able to recover the man from the water using a Life-Ring mounted on the harbour wall nearby.

Both lifeboats were stood down from Search & Rescue duties at 13.38 however, the inshore lifeboat was asked to retrieve a further Life-Ring that had been thrown into the water by the casualty’s friend.

The incident was closed at 14:21

Mike Harris AssocRINA, AffiIIMS.

St Peter Port Lifeboat launched to assist broken down vessel

At 9:30am on Monday 7th September 2020, Guernsey Coastguard received a radio call from a 21-foot motor boat with 1 person onboard which had broken down 18 nautical miles west of Les Casquets Lighthouse. Guernsey Coastguard made a PAN PAN broadcast on behalf of the casualty requesting assistance from other vessels in the area however, no offers of help were forthcoming.

St Peter Port Lifeboat “Spirit of Guernsey” was launched at 10:05am to locate and assist the casualty vessel, arriving on scene at 11:05am. A tow line was connected and the vessel was towed safely back to St Peter, arriving at the pier heads at 1:20pm.

photo by Carl Bisson
Pic by Tony Rive 07-09-2020 Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey towing a small motor boat south through the Little Russel between Brehon Tower and Vivian Beacon as they head for St Peter Port Harbour.
Pic by Tony Rive 07-09-2020 Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey heading east towing a small motor boat they had picked up 20 miles West of the Casquetes Lighthouse which had broken down. The Casquests Lighthouse can be seen on the horizon.
Pic by Tony Rive 07-09-2020 Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey towing a 21ft private motor boat past La Platte Fougere Lighthouse before turning south towards the Little Russel on their way to St Peter Port Harbour.

Kayak Found Drifting in L’Eree Bay

At 10:51 this morning (Saturday 5th September 2020), Guernsey Coastguard received reports of an orange Kayak seen drifting in L’Eree Bay on the south-west coast of Guernsey.

A Coastguard officer attended at the scene and assisted another Kayaker in recovering the Kayak to the shore where it was inspected for any identifying marks however, none were found.

A social media appeal brought forward a witness who said they had seen a male and two children paddling an orange Kayak at about 08:30 this morning.

Because of this information and with the potential for persons being in the water, the St Peter Port All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) ‘Spirit of Guernsey’ and the Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) ‘John & Louisa Fisher’, were both launched at 11:42, to investigate further.

At 12:19 more information was received during investigations made by JESCC staff, and it was decided to also launch the Channel Islands Airsearch aircraft, ‘Airsearch 1’.

The Lifeboats arrived on scene at about 12:20 and commenced a thorough search of the area.

At 12:50 more information was received indicating that the owner of the Kayak had been located with his two sons who were all taking part in a race at the Rocquaine Regatta and that the Kayak had broken free from its mooring in L’Eree Bay.

With all persons located safe and well the lifeboats and Airsearch 1 were stood down at 13:00.

A spokesman for Guernsey Coastguard said “This incident highlights the importance of marking any marine sports equipment with the owners contact details. This incident could have been resolved much sooner if the Kayak had been marked either with an indelible marker or with one of Guernsey Coastguards ‘Water Based Activity’ stickers available from several local water based, sporting equipment suppliers”.

photo by Dylan Ray
photo by Dylan Ray
Pic by Tony Rive 05-09-2020 ALB Spirit of Guernsey returning to St Peter Port following a Shout to L’Eree Bay
Pic by Tony Rive 05-09-2020 Spirit of Guernsey arriving back at St Peter Port Harbour after circumnavigating the island of Guernsey clockwise following a search at Rocquaine/L’Eree Bay on the Island’s west coast.

Stranded Teenagers on Lihou Island

At approximately 16:55 yesterday evening Guernsey Coastguard received information that two teenagers had been left stranded on Lihou Island on the South West Coast of Guernsey, after being cut off by the rising tide.

At 17:05 the St Peter Port inshore lifeboat, the ‘John & Louisa’ Fisher was tasked to recover the two teenagers arriving on scene at 17:52.

The lifeboat transported the teenagers safely back to the Lihou car park headland where they were met by their parents, the Lihou Island Warden and a Guernsey Coastguard officer who offered words of advice regarding the importance of knowing the opening and closing times of the causeway.

The inshore lifeboat returned to St Peter Port and was back on station at
18:59.

Pic by Tony Rive 01-09-2020 ILB John and Louisa Fisher B-870 heading back to St Peter Port after a Shout to Lihou Island. The Inshore Lifeboat passing inside of Houmtel Island north of Bordeaux Harbour after passing Beaucette Marina.
Pic by Tony Rive 01-09-2020 Guernsey’s Inshore Lifeboat John & Louisa Fisher (B-870) heading south towards St Peter Port Harbour inside Houmet Paradis just north of Bordeaux Harbour.
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