Author Archives: colin

“The Spirit Of Guernsey ” tasked  to assist a 8m Local Rib 3 miles West of Little  Sark

Posted on by January 5, 2019

1830, Saturday 20th October 2018. A call was received from “Plaything” a local rib that they had broken down and was unable to proceed and requested assistance. The fact that the casualty was unsure of their position due to several factors did not help in the rescue of this broken down vessel.

 Guernsey Coastguard put out an “all ships call” asking for assistance for the disabled vessel.

As there were no available vessels to go to the assistance of the Rib  “The Spirit of Guernsey” was tasked to the Rib`s assistance- with a brief to search an area to the west of Sark

1843 Lifeboat Red

1858 Lifeboat at the Pier Heads bound for the search area

1909 Lifeboat alongside casualty – connecting a tow.

1945 Lifeboat expected back in St Peter Port –with the casualty in tow.

EPIRB distress signal

Posted on by January 5, 2019

The St Peter Port Lifeboat was tasked to search an area South of St Martins Point during the evening of Sunday 14th October 2018 after an EPIRB distress signal was received indicating a vessel in distress in that area.  The Spirit of Guernsey was launched at 17:11 and searched the area with assistance from the local fishing vessel “Sarah P”.  With nothing being found, both vessels were stood down.

The Spirit of Guernsey was back on station at 17:20.

Pic by Tony Rive 14-10-18
Guernsey Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey heading back to St Peter Port Harbour following a report of a signal from an EPIRB being transmitted off the South Coast of Guernsey

M/V “Chianti” – Broken Down Motor Vessel Prompts the Launch of St Peter Port Lifeboat

Posted on by October 15, 2018

At 1500 on Saturday 4th August 2018, St Peter Port Lifeboat was launched to attend to Jersey registered M/V “Chianti”, a 22ft motor boat which had suffered engine failure approximately 3 nautical miles south of Herm. The vessel had been on passage from Guernsey to Sark with 4 persons on board.

St Peter Port Lifeboat arrived on scene at approximately 1520 and attached a tow line to the stricken vessel. None of the 4 crew members were injured and the vessel was towed safely back to St Peter Port harbour arriving alongside shortly before 1545.

“The Spirit Of Guernsey” tasked  to assist a 10m yacht 4 miles north of Sark

Posted on by August 5, 2018

On Tuesday 31st July 2018 at 1733, a call was received from Crossma Joburg, informing Guernsey Coastguard that a French 10m yacht “Octave” had suffered an engine failure and was unable to sail due to the lack of wind. A French fishing boat, “Bambi” was close by and Crossma Joburg organised between the two vessels, to tow “Octave“ to St Peter Port. At the start of the incident “Octave” was in the vicinity of the Schole Bank, northeast from Guernsey.

Unfortunately, the “Bambi“ that had been towing “Octave”, suffered an overheating engine and was unable to continue with the tow.

Guernsey Coastguard put out an “all ships call” asking for assistance for the disabled yacht.

As there were no available vessels to go to the assistance of the yacht “The Spirit of Guernsey” was tasked to the yacht`s assistance

2045 Lifeboat Yellow
2104 Lifeboat at the Pier Heads bound for the casualty
2130 Lifeboat alongside casualty – connecting a tow.
2305 Lifeboat expected back in St Peter Port –with the casualty.

M.T. Gaudion
Duty SAR

AIS tracking courtesy of Digimap

RNLI issues safety warning – Guernsey Lifeboat News Release

Posted on by August 5, 2018

Sunday 29 July 2018

The RNLI has urged beachgoers to stay safe if they head to the beach with inflatables this summer.

With people flocking to the coast across the UK, there has been a spike in the number of people having to be rescued from a wide range of inflatables – ranging from footballs, unicorns, flamingos to inflatable boats.

RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Peter Gill said, ‘Inflatables aren’t designed for the beach, and it is easy to find yourself quickly swept out to sea.

‘If you do choose to use them, we would like to remind people that they’re to be used near the shore and only when the wind is blowing back onto the beach. Never take inflatables out in big waves, and never use them when the winds which will blow you further out to sea.

 ‘On Sunday, our local volunteer crew were called out to reports of two persons with an inflatable kayak at Pembroke struggling to get back to shore. Thankfully, the wind died down and the kayakers were able to return safely to dry land.  However, it could have been a very different outcome.’

Whenever you take to the sea the RNLI recommend that you and your children wear a suitable lifejacket or buoyancy aid.  This will provide the necessary flotation should the inflatable suffer a puncture or similar.