On Saturday morning 4 April, just after 8am, lifeboat crews were called to investigate an object in the water approximately 200m offshore from Rustington; they found a small boat partially filled with sea water that had made its way to Sussex from a long way to the west.
Mark Nicholls, who volunteers at the RNLI lifeboat station in Littlehampton as a B Class and D Class lifeboat helm, was driving along the beachfront near Rustington and spotted a floating object, possibly a boat, but it was close to the shoreline which was unusual around low tide times. After determining that the object wasn’t a vessel working with pots or fishing gear and it apparently being adrift Mark called 999 and asked for the Coastguard as it was unclear as to whether there may be someone aboard the boat in need of assistance; additionally recovering the vessel would prevent it becoming an ongoing shipping hazard.
HM Coastguard subsequently tasked Littlehampton RNLI to launch the D Class inshore lifeboat Spirit of Fidelity in order to investigate the mystery vessel, with Mark Nicholls now at the helm. The four volunteer crew headed out into the grey, choppy morning seas where a brisk south-westerly wind was building from Force 3 to Force 5 ahead of Storm Dave.
The crew had carried with them a salvage pump in case the craft had taken on water and soon spotted the orange hull of a small tender or rescue boat.
When it had been ascertained that there was no one on board the vessel the lifeboat crew set to work pumping excess water from its hull and then secured a tow for the final sea leg of what it turns out had been a very long journey for the little orange boat.
Once secured at Duke’s Wharf on the east side of the river Arun in Littlehampton the owners of the vessel were contacted, a water sports company called Easy Riders who are based in Sandbanks on the seaward edge of Poole harbour. They had reported to HM Coastguard four days previously that their ‘beloved tub Izzy’ had gone missing. They also set up a funding page raising money for the RNLI where supporters could guess where Izzy might be found.
Izzy had made a journey eastwards of approximately 60 nautical miles; from near the home of the RNLI in Poole to be spotted and recovered by the RNLI near Littlehampton whilst the owners were raising money for the RNLI. As an orange boat perhaps Izzy also has a lot in common with the RNLI.
Sunday 5 April, two representatives of Easy Riders drove from Sandbanks to Littlehampton so that Izzy could be handed back into their care. Sophie Collins, an RNLI D Class volunteer crew member who was also involved in Izzy’s recovery additionally assists Littlehampton Harbour Board and handed over Izzy to Gemma Soloman and Andy Gratwick from Easy Riders.
Chris King, Launch Authority for this incident said: ‘The whole of Littlehampton lifeboat station were delighted to be able to recover and reunite Izzy with her owners. The power of tides and currents should never be underestimated and the RNLI factors these elements into lifeboat search and rescue plans in the river and at sea. Izzy’s journey in four days is a remarkable one and a reminder to anyone preparing to head out onto the water that they need to be mindful of any relevant current and tidal regimes.’
