Author Archives: colin

Lifeboat Call-Out to persons stuck on Cliff in Herm

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At 23:48 on Saturday 22nd June 2019, a 999 call was received by the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre (JESCC), from a male who was stuck on the cliffs to the south of Rosaire steps on the west coast of Herm, with him was his teenage daughter.

The Herm Constable was contacted and went straight to the scene where he assessed the situation and confirmed that he had no means on the island to reach the persons in distress.

The St Peter Port Lifeboat crew were paged at 00:30 and the Lifeboat, ‘Spirit of Guernsey’ left St Peter Port harbour at 00:45.

At arrival on scene, the decision was taken to evacuate the casualties from the cliffs using the Lifeboats ‘daughter’ craft (Y-Boat), this operation was carried out without incident.

The Lifeboat crew assessed the condition of the two persons recovered and other than feeling a little cold both had no serious injuries and were transferred back to their yacht which was anchored off of Rosaire steps.

The ‘Spirit of Guernsey’ returned to St Peter Port and was back on station at 01:29.

St Peter Port Lifeboat Launched to Assist Sailing Vessel “ADDIKO”

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At 15:17 on Saturday 15th June 2019, Guernsey Coastguard received a telephone call from Jersey Coastguard who had been contacted by the sailing vessel “Addiko” asking for assistance.

The vessel with 2 persons onboard, had suffered engine failure and was becalmed 13 nautical miles south west of St Martins point on the south coast of Guernsey and was unable to proceed to St Peter Port.  

An all ships call was put out to any vessel in the area that could assist “Addiko” however there was no response and therefore the St Peter Port Lifeboat the “Spirit of Guernsey” was launched at 15:56 and proceeded to the scene.  Once “Addiko” was located, a tow was established and the vessel was towed safely back to St Peter Port, arriving shortly after 18:40. 

The Lifeboat was back on station at 18:53

Pic by Tony Rive 15-06-19 Two Guernsey Harbour’s Marina Attendant’s attend to the UK Yacht Addiko whith the Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey had just towed into St Peter Port Harbour from approximately 13 miles south of St Martin’s Point.
Spirit of Guernsey passing St Martin’s Point with yacht Addiko in Tow 15-06-19 Pic by Tony Rive

St Peter Port Lifeboat Launched to Assist Sailing Vessel “Pickle”

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At 15:40 on Thursday 6th June 2019, Guernsey Coastguard received a radio call from sailing vessel “Pickle” asking for assistance. The vessel had 2 persons onboard and had picked up a rope around her propeller approximately four nautical miles due north of the Platte Fougere lighthouse on the north east coast of Guernsey and was unable to proceed to St Peter Port.  

An all ships call was put out to any vessel in the area that could assist “Pickle” however there was no response and therefore the St Peter Port Lifeboat the “Spirit of Guernsey” was launched at 16:11 and proceeded to the scene.  Once “Pickle” was located, a tow was established and the vessel was towed safely back to St Peter Port, arriving shortly after 17:40. 

The Lifeboat was back on station at 17:58

Pic by Tony Rive 06-06-19 The St Peter Port Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey returning to harbour with the yacht “Pickles” in Tow.
Pic by Tony Rive 06-06-19 Yacht Pickles arriving in St Peter Port in Tow by the Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey after fouling its propellor approximately 4 miles North of La Platte Fougere Lighthouse, north of Guernsey.

Lifeboat Call-Out to a swamped vessel north of Les Hanois Lighthouse

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At 08:37 local time on Monday 3rd June 2019, a distress message was received by Guernsey Coastguard from the 17 foot vessel ‘Dingbat’ with two persons on board. The vessel had broken down and become swamped one nautical mile North of Les Hanois Lighthouse on the South West coast of Guernsey.

The St Peter Port lifeboat ‘Spirit of Guernsey’ was launched immediately along with the Channel Islands ‘Air Search’ aircraft ‘Air Search 1’.

At 09:14 both the ‘Spirit of Guernsey’ and ‘Air Search 1’ arrived at the location of the vessel which had by this time deployed its liferaft in preparation for abandoning the craft. Shortly afterwards the two persons on board ‘Dingbat’ were transferred to the lifeboat and a tow was established.

‘Air Search 1’ stood down at 09:19, and the ‘Spirit of Guernsey’ arrived back at St Peter Port harbour at 10:29 and was back on station at 10:35.

Pic by Tony Rive 03-06-19 Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey towing the 17ft Open boat Dingbat back to St Peter Port after if broke down and got Swamped approximately 1 mile North of Les Hanios Lighthouse West of Lihou Island. The Two Crew were taken aboard the Lifeboat before their Liferaft was tied to their Boat and then towed back to St Peter Port Harbour.
Pic by Tony Rive 03-06-19 A Guernsey Harbour Marina Attendant aboard the 17ft Open boat Dingbat to disconnect the Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey’s Tow rope before taking the boat into St Peter Port Harbour whilst the Lifeboat took the Two Crewman to a waiting Ambulance to be checked out.
Pic by Tony Rive 03-06-19 Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey arriving alongside the Inter Island Quay at St Peter Port meeting an Ambulance after rescueing two Fisherman from their Open Boat approximately 2 miles West of Lihou Island this morning after it broke down and started being swamped. Once a Tow Rope was attached, the crewman’s 17ft boat Dingbat was towed back to Port.

St Peter Port lifeboat launched to assist Sailing Vessel “Rancer”

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At 1720 on Wednesday 29th May 2019, Guernsey Coastguard received a radio call from sailing vessel “Rancer” asking for assistance. The vessel had 1 person onboard and had broken down approximately 2 miles west of Little Sark. She was making slow progress under sail to St Peter Port.

Given fading light, reducing visibility and light winds, St Peter Port Lifeboat the “Spirit of Guernsey” launched at 1809 and proceeded to the scene. Once “Rancer” was located, a tow line was connected and the vessel was towed safely back to St Peter Port, arriving shortly after 2015.

Fishing Vessel “Kendor” – St Peter Port Lifeboat Launched to assist broken down vessel

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At 1110 on Monday 6th May, Guernsey Coastguard received a PAN PAN urgency call from the fishing vessel “Kendor” which had broken down in the vicinity of Vivian Beacon, approximately half a mile south of the entrance to St Sampson’s Harbour. The vessel had 2 people onboard and was drifting towards the breakwater at Longue Hougue.

St Peter Port Lifeboat the “Spirit of Guernsey” launched at 1129 and was on scene within 5 minutes. None of the crew of the vessel sustained any injuries and she was safely towed back to St Peter Port arriving shortly before midday.

Pic by Tony Rive 06-05-19 Guernsey Harbour’s Marina Dory taking the small Fishing boat Kendor towards the Swan Pontoon’s after it had been towed into St Peter Port Harbour by Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey, after it had broken down near Vivian Beacon near Belle Greve Bay.