By Isle of Wight Observer
Two men out fishing in the wind-tossed Solent on Thursday evening (March 7) caught more than they had bargained for, when a large wave smashed in the bow window of their cuddy.
With more waves, whipped up by a Force 5 westerly, threatening to make the small craft seriously water-logged, Cowes RNLI lifeboat was urgently tasked by Coastguards to go to their aid.
Fortunately for the hapless fishermen the lifeboat was about to go on exercise at the time. Although the fishermen had dropped their anchor to reduce the ingress of water, their boat, off Osborne Bay, was being dragged into the main shipping channel.
The lifeboat used their VHF direction finding equipment to locate the boat. Then lifeboat crew members and the fishermen set to work bailing out the fishing boat as it was taken into shallower water.
Eventually the lifeboat carried out an alongside tow to Trinity Landing, Cowes, where the fishermen were met by Ventnor coastguards.
Although the fishing boat was based in Newport, the men were advised undertake the up-river journey in daylight, the following day.
The lifeboat had been away from station for over two hours.
