7 rescued from Twin Wakes as boat starts sinking in the Solent

The crew of Twin Wakes were forced to abandon the vessel when it starting taking on water. It is used as a committee boat for racing on the Solent, including Cowes Week.

TAGS:

Twin Wakes was being used as a committee boat for the Island Sailing Club’s J/111 Garmin World Championship when it starting taking on water.

The crew issued a Mayday call as the boat began sinking north of East Bramble Buoy in the Solent.

Cowes, Bembridge and Calshot RNLI lifeboats were all scrambled on 2 August.

The 30-foot Twin Wakes began taking on water on the port side.

The port engine compartment eventually became fully flooded, causing the vessel to lean further over in the choppy sea.

The seven crew were evacuated to the Ministry of Defence Police launch, Endeavour, which had also attended the incident.

They were all taken back to Cowes uninjured.

Portable pumps were put aboard the Twin Wakes by the crew of the Cowes and Calshot inshore lifeboats.

However, they were not powerful enough to pump out the water.

“By then, though, it (Twin Wakes) was close to capsizing,” explained the Cowes helm, Alasdair Boden.

“And the amount of water aboard proved just too much,” he added.

The pump on board Bembridge’s all weather lifeboat was deployed.

It pumped out enough water to make the boat buoyant enough to be towed.

Twin Wakes was towed back to its home port of Cowes by the Bembridge lifeboat.

The Cowes lifeboat followed astern.

At Cowes, the vessel was swiftly lifted out of the water at Cowes Yacht Haven, to undergo a full inspection.

The RNLI said it understand that Twin Wakes is owned by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

The Island Sailing Club’s J/111 Garmin World Championship racing was not affected by the sudden emergency.

The RIB, Golden Toad, filled in for Twin Wakes’ absence on the course.