In the first of the incidents on Saturday, in which lifeboat crews were called to assist small boats without VHF radios, the St Helier lifeboat helped three men to safety at 9 am after the outboard motor on their 13-ft boat failed two miles south of St Brelade’s Church.In this case, they phoned a friend ashore and fortunately their mobile phone battery lasted long enough for them to tell lifeboat crew when their searchlight was shining in their direction.
They had only one flare and no other safety equipment on board, their lifejackets being in their van.After the crew had been taken on board the lifeboat, which towed the boat to St Helier, the crew were interviewed by the harbour’s duty officer.
