Isle of Wight News- #IW NEWS Isle of Wight Gazette

A man and a woman were taken ashore for a medical check-up by Cowes RNLI lifeboat this evening, after being plucked from the sea when their vintage 20 foot yacht suddenly sank in the Solent, off Castle Point, East Cowes.

The Duma was on its way from Wootton to the annual Old Gaffers Festival at Yarmouth. It was seen to suddenly broach and take on water. Desperate attempts to correct the problem failed, and the yacht quickly capsized.

The couple, both wearing lifejackets, were however only in the water for a few minutes before being picked up by the large yacht, Kinsale. When the lifeboat, helmed by Scott Armiger, arrived on the scene the first priority was to see to their welfare.

Although both seemed none the worse for their ducking Scott arranged for an ambulance to attend to them as a precaution when the lifeboat arrived with them at Trinity Landing, Cowes. The lifeboat then returned to the yacht, submerged but for the bow and mast. They managed to get a rope on board and eventually beach it close to the shore, using the yacht’s own anchor.

A lifeboat crewman waded through the shallow water to the Duma in the hope of recovering some of the couple’s personal possessions including their passports (both were from abroad). But the search proved unsuccessful.

The lifeboat which had been alerted to the sinking at 6.20 pm, returned to base at Shepards Marina two hours later. It was the 14th ‘shout’ attended by lifeboat this year.

Two Isle of Wight businesspeople suspected of attempting to defraud around £200,000 of income tax were arrested last Thursday morning by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) criminal investigators.

Officers arrested a 47 year old man in East Cowes and a 59 year old woman in Ryde, Isle of Wight, on Thursday 19 May. They have been bailed until 25 November 2011.

HM Revenue & Customs spokesman Bob Gaiger said: “HMRC take attempts of tax fraud seriously and will not hesitate to investigate those who ultimately rob the exchequer of public funds. Anyone with information about individuals who may be involved in tax fraud can contact the Customs’ Hotline on 0800 59 5000.”

Two residential properties were searched and investigations are ongoing.

Business entrepreneur and star of BBC 1′s ‘The Apprentice’, Lord Alan Sugar, made a flying visit to the Isle of Wight on Saturday (May 21).

At the controls of his own ‘Cirrus’ single prop aeroplane, Lord Sugar flew into Bembridge Airport shortly before 12pm for a spot of lunch with friends.

Sugar, ranked 89th in the Sunday Times’ Rich List, paid a £12 landing fee for himself and two passengers.

When asked if he had had a nice flight to the Island, Sugar simply did not respond.

After admiring the views of Bembridge from outside the Propeller Inn pub, Lord Sugar returned to his plane and took off shortly after 2pm.

This was not without an idealistic photograph of Lord Sugar at the controls of his 310 horsepower pride and joy (see homepage).

Pictures: Bright Wight Images

Passengers on Red Funnel’s high-speed service between Southampton and West Cowes were unexpectedly delayed this evening after a fault developed on one of its high-speed craft.

The 18.45pm Red Jet sailing from Southampton was almost back to port at West Cowes when the crew on-board realised that a booster had failed, meaning the vessel could not dock successfully.

Making its way back to Southampton, the Red Jet and its angry passengers had a lengthy 30 minute wait while a tug was brought in to push the faulty craft into the dockside at the vehicle ferry terminal landing.

Thankfully, all passengers affected were transferred onto the 20.45pm sailing, however this was also delayed due to weather conditions in the Solent.

Engineers managed to fix the faulty booster and the craft was put back into operation for the slightly delayed crossing.

A spokesperson for Red Funnel get in touch with The Gazette today (Monday 23rd) to issue the following statement…

‘Red Funnel apologises for any inconvenience caused to passengers on the 18.45 Red Jet service from Southampton to Cowes on Sunday 22 May. A technical fault was reported with the starboard engine of the Red Jet, meaning it was unable to safely dock in Cowes, especially due to high winds. The safety of customers and staff is paramount to Red Funnel and so the Red Jet returned to Southampton, where it could dock safely, and passengers were put on a specially arranged service to Cowes at 20.30. The fault was rectified shortly afterwards and no further services have been impacted.’

Cowes RNLI lifeboat dashed across the Solent yesterday (Saturday) afternoon to go to the aid of a 37 foot ocean racer, brought to a sudden halt in the western Solent because of one small yellow buoy.

The Gunshot, on passage from Chichester to Beaulieu with five people on board, radioed Solent coastguards that they appeared to have been fouled by a rope attached to a buoy at Bourne Gap, off Hampshire’s Stanswood Bay.

When the lifeboat, with Richard O’Callaghan at the helm, arrived on the scene two crewmen, Patrick Moreton and Steve Price, went into the sea to try to free the rope, which seemed to have become caught on the propeller or rudder.

As the lifeboat began towing the yacht the line finally broke free; it was, no longer, however, was it attached to its buoy which was retrieved by the yacht crew. Although the Gunshot was able to proceed under its own power, as a precaution the lifeboat provided an escort as far as the entrance to Beaulieu River.

Motorists were advised to avoid the Morrisions supermarket area of Lake this lunchtime (Friday) after a young male suffered serious injuries after parting from his motorcycle.

The incident happened on the notorious Morrisons roundabout on Newport Road, Lake shortly before 12pm today.

Officers from Shanklin’s Roads Policing Unit closed the road while the motorcycle was recovered and the incident was investigated. Traffic was once again flowing around an hour later.

Emergency services were called to the scene, but thankfully an ambulance was only a few cars away in the building traffic.

Witnesses saw the motorcyclist laying motionless in the road, before he was taken to St Mary’s Hospital for treatment.

It is not believed any other vehicles were involved.

First for Island news

Specialist Police officers from the mainland are set to continue for a third day in the search for the possible remains of missing Islander Damien Nettles.

The 14-year-old case of Damien Nettles was brought back into the media spotlight on Monday after Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police arrested 5 men on suspicion of murder, four of which are from the Island. The fifth person arrested is a 39-year-old man from the Gravesend area of Kent.

Damien Nettles went missing in November 1996 after a night out with friends in the centre of Cowes.

Hampshire Constabulary sealed off a marshland area underneath the railway bridge on the Newport to Cowes cyclepath near to Stag Lane, Newport on Thursday morning.

This new development has grabbed the national media’s attention, with film crews, photographers and radio journalists descending to the scene.

An Island family are warning others about the danger of throwing sticks to your dog after nearly losing their beloved family pet, Penny, in a freak accident.

While walking at St Catherine’s Lighthouse, dog owner Hayley Reed threw a stick for Penny to catch, but unfortunately Penny became impaled on the stick as it dug into the ground.

Hayley explained to The Gazette: “When she ran for the stick she unfortunately ran at it too hard, it stuck in the ground and ripped all of her throat lining from the force of it, as well as dislocating a tongue bone.

“We were told by the vet, Matthew Twitchett, that she had done extensive damage and would need emergency surgery to remove the bits of wood and stitch her throat back together.”

Vets operated on Penny for over 6 hours, but even then she wasn’t out of the woods. Penny had a feeding tube inserted into her neck so that Hayley and her parents could inject liquidised food – Penny’s only way of eating.

Thankfully, a week following the near-fatal accident, Penny slowly began to lick water and liquidised food more and more and made steady progress.

Now that Penny has fully recovered, the family have started their own campaign to ask people to consider the implications of throwing sticks for their dogs.

“It’s such a normal thing to do I don’t think people realise the dangers”, commented Hayley.

She continued “This seemingly harmless game cost my family over £2000 in vets bills, but thankfully we had insurance to cover such an event.

Reader’s can join the Facebook group to help raise awareness about the dangers of stick throwing by searching for the group name ‘Throwing sticks could kill your dog’.

This May 21^st and 22^nd, Jazz on the Meadow kicks off the Island’s festival season at Ventnor Botanic Garden. This week organisers Blunt Events have announced a brand new act for Saturday adding to the already impressive lineup featuring Claire Martin and James Taylor Quartet.

The multi award winning Tensheds will perform on Saturday 21^st May, bringing his unique brand of boogie and balladry to Ventnor Botanic Garden’s beautiful meadow. The performance will be the culmination of Tensheds’ Crazy Beautiful tour, which has travelled the length and breadth of Europe promoting his album of the same name. ‘Crazy Beautiful’ the album has received rave reviews across the board, rated 4/5 by Uncut Magazine, and was described as ‘exceptional’ by Mojo, whilst Tensheds has been racking up the miles on the road performing at such eclectic venues as the Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival and Vladimir Palace, St Petersburg. Along the way, he has also picked up the World Record for the Most Gigs in 24 Hours.

Blunt Events spokesman Roni Blunt commented, “Getting Tensheds to perform at Jazz on the Meadow is a real coup for us. The lineup for Saturday 21^st is already dripping with raw talent but we just had to take the opportunity to squeeze in a bit more. Couple Saturday’s lineup to the incredible show we’re going to be treated to from DJ Yoda and the rest of the bill on Sunday 22^nd, and we’re in for an amazing weekend!”

Blunt Events are also working in collaboration with Island music college Platform One to provide a new and exciting opening to the event which will be a one-time-only performance including students, Platform One tutors and some special surprises.

Joining the bill on Sunday 22^nd will be Island-based band Paper Romance. The band are no strangers to performing at high profile events having performed on the Isle of Wight Festival Mainstage in 2010. Roni Blunt added: “When you have a headliner as innovative as DJ Yoda it makes perfect sense to look for some younger up-and-coming acts to support, and Paper Romance are exactly what we were looking for. We’re thrilled to have them perform on our ‘Twist on Jazz’ Sunday”.

“We always do something a little different with our events”, added Roni Blunt. “Jazz on the Meadow is no exception. We have a special celebrity appearing on the Saturday as host for the day who has been really supportive of the concept of Jazz on the Meadow and is a huge jazz fan, and many many more surprises and exciting unexpected performances and appearances throughout the weekend. It’s going to be a party weekend, and really is not to be missed.”

A principal contractor has today been fined after a worker suffered serious head injuries when he fell through a loading platform.

On 18 September 2006, 21-year-old Kevin Cleightonhills of Bembridge, Isle of Wight, was attempting to push a boat on to a purpose-designed loading platform at Bembridge Marine on Embankment Road. As he was doing so, a panel in the floor of the platform moved and opened a gap, causing him to fall nearly 3.5 metres and leaving him with severe head injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the number of clips used to hold the floor panels in place was fewer than that recommended by British Standards on walkways and stair treads, and that there was no other means of preventing the panels from moving sideways.

The principal contractor, Malcolm Ely, formerly from Osborne Heights, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, at Portsmouth Crown Court. He was fined £2,250 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Tracey Cartwright said: ”This incident has left Mr Cleightonhills with life-changing injuries.

“As the design and build contractor for this project Mr Ely should have ensured effective co-ordination and communication by all those involved in this project.

“The judge was correct when he said Mr Ely was not competent to provide a design and build service to Bembridge Marine, his incompetence contributed to the sorry series of events which led to the catastrophic injures of Mr Cleightonhills.”

Island Police have today made a fresh appeal for information after a man was arrested over an alleged assault on a woman in Wootton Bridge, Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

A 47-year-old woman from Sandown reported that she was assaulted by a man she did not know in the car park of the Sloop Inn pub in Mill Square.

During the shocking assault, the woman received injuries to her legs, back and neck, none of which are life threatening.

The unnamed woman was driving a silver Volkswagen Passat when she and her partner were involved in an argument with another man who was driving a gold Skoda.

The argument and assault are alleged to have taken place at approximately 6pm on Wednesday April 13 2011.

A 46-year-old man from Waterlooville, Hampshire was arrested on April 30 on suspicion of common assault and was bailed until July 17, pending further enquiries.

Investigating officer PC James Senior of the Isle of Wight’s Targeted Patrol Teams (TPT) said: “It’s alleged an assault took place during a dispute over a car park space outside the Sloop Inn. We know the pub and its car park were busy with other customers at the time. I’m appealing for anyone who was in the area at around 6pm on Wednesday, April 13 to contact police if they saw or heard an argument and assault or if they have any information about what happened.”

Please contact PC James Senior at Shanklin Police Station by phoning 101 or emailing http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/contact/message_officer.htm.

From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call police on 0845 045 45 45. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Cowes’ RNLI lifeboat raced to the aid of a yacht that was drifting into the main shipping channel in the Solent yesterday evening (Saturday).

The 35 foot sloop ‘Chianti’ had been on passage from Chichester to Falmouth, crewed by a man and a teenage boy. With no wind, a growing flood tide and poor visibility because of fine rain and fading light, off Ryde Sands, they turned to their engine to make headway through the Solent, only to find the engine would not work.

As the yacht drifted helplessly in the gloomy conditions into the channel used by cruise liners and other shipping, they made an urgent call for help to Solent coastguard.

Cowes lifeboat, with Scott Armiger at the helm, managed to quickly locate the yacht despite the poor visibility. A lifeboat crew member was put aboard and the yacht was taken in tow.

It was finally moored safely alongside Trinity Wharf at Cowes.

The whole rescue operation took over two hours.

Organisers of the multi award-winning Bestival have today announced that they are planning to do something a bit special to help cash-strapped Island residents.

Whilst the organisers have said that any Islanders looking to attend the UK’s hottest summer music festival (officially voted the UK’s Best Major Music Festival in 2010) should not hang about as tickets for this year’s Robin Hill based event are “flying out”, they are planning to make things a little easier on local residents by announcing a very special Bestival 2011 ‘Islander Day‘ deal.

A strictly limited number of Bestival 2011 tickets will go on-sale at selected outlets on Saturday 7^th May at face value – ie minus all commission, booking fees, postage charges etc. This represents a saving of approx £9.00 per ticket and also means that Islanders will have their Bestival tickets in their hands straightaway (and not have to wait on tickets arriving in the post at a later date).

Islander Day tickets will only be available in person from the following 4 local outlets on a first come, first served basis…

The Island Wine Company
16A Pier St
Ventnor

Harwoods
St James’ Square
Yarmouth

Robin Hill Country Park

The White Hart Inn
Havenstreet

Any remaining tickets available at these outlets after 7^th May will be available with a £5.00 commission fee.

Bestival organiser Rob da Bank said today: “Having just spent a month on the officially sunniest spot in the UK (and come away very inspired), I’m glad that we can give a little back to the Isle of Wight population with this offer. Roll up, roll up… and get in quick”.

Bestival 2011 takes place at Robin Hill Country Park between 8 – 11 September and already boasts the line-up of the summer – over 300 great acts spread across a mighty 15 stages, including The Cure (exclusive European appearance), Pendulum, PJ Harvey, Primal Scream, Brian Wilson, Magnetic Man, Crystal Castles, Public Enemy, Robyn, Kelis, Fatboy Slim, Noah & The Whale, The Village People, Groove Armada and a very special Sunday night headliner still to be announced.

Volunteer crews from Bembridge Lifeboat station were called out shortly after 8.45pm this evening to a drifting boat that was causing alarm in Bembridge.

The Tamar-class lifeboat and it’s crew received reports that a small boat, situated at the entrance to Bembridge Harbour, was drifting uncontrollably out to sea.

Upon arrival, it was clear that the unattended boat was anchored to a chain, however it was causing obstruction to the harbour for other sailors.

After safely moving the boat to a more suitable location within the perimeters of the harbour, Bembridge lifeboat returned the short distance to base ready for their next shout.

Volunteer crew members from Bembridge RNLI lifeboat station are preparing to welcome aboard world-famous, record-breaking sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur this weekend, to escort her to a ceremony where she will be a special guest.

The crew are all set to transport Dame Ellen, who broke the world record in 2005 for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe, to Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, where she will open a new marina belonging to the club.

Bembridge volunteer crew will man a Tamar class lifeboat to collect Dame Ellen from Trinity Landing in Cowes at 11.30am on Saturday morning and take her to the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club marina.

The marina is just yards from where Cowes RNLI lifeboat station is currently based, although this is set to change when a £1M public appeal is complete and Cowes moves to a new location in the old Custom House building near the harbour entrance.

The event is a genuine honour for the RNLI on the Isle of Wight, given that Dame Ellen is synonymous with the sea. She has also pledged support for the RNLI on several occasions.

Richard Weeks, Deputy Divisional Inspector for the RNLI, said: ‘This is a real honour for our volunteer lifeboat crew. Dame Ellen is famous the world over and it should be a pleasure for them to escort her to the new marina at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club”.

The new marina at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club features a total of 38 berths. The new development offers a much bigger and more open launching basin to accommodate sailing events hosted by the club. It features improved access for disabled sailors, better facilities for boat launching, and host of environmental improvements, such as a deck made from recycled material and low energy LED lighting.

The new marina has been funded solely by The Crown Estate, and will be leased back to the club over a 25-year period on affordable terms.

Richard continued: “As someone who has sailed solo around the world, Dame Ellen knows exactly how much pleasure the sea can bring, but also how it can prove very dangerous if not respected and if the right precautions are not taken. Although she will only be aboard our lifeboat a relatively short time, we welcome the opportunity to escort her to the marina ceremony and continue the good relationship the RNLI charity has with her”.

The lifeboat will remain alongside the marina for the duration of the marina opening ceremony where guests will be welcome to tour the lifeboat and hear first hand from volunteers what they do and how they save lives at sea.

Island Police cordoned off an area of Sandown this afternoon after a man threatened to throw himself from cliffs.

Emergency services were called shortly before 4pm to Battery Gardens, Sandown after reports that a man was acting suspiciously near to the cliff edge.

Officers discovered upon arrival a man that was in a distressed state and that was threatening to jump from the cliff top to his death.

Coastguard Rescue teams from Bembridge were called in to assist Police in their efforts to secure the man’s life.

Talbolt Road and Battery Gardens were closed for approximately an hour.

Thankfully, talks with the man were successful and he was safely brought back from the cliff edge.

The Old Boathouse, a five bedroom sea front property where rock legend Jimi Hendrix reputedly stayed with his entourage during the heady days of the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, is on the market at £1.25m with Creasey Biles & King.

Hendrix reputedly stayed at the property before and after performing to half a million fans ­ a performance which proved to be his last in the UK before his untimely death in London just three months later.

The Old Boathouse boasts superb views over the Solent and is a stone’s throw from the beach. The five-bedroom converted period, stone, Grade II listed property is divided into a three-bedroom house and a detached two-bedroom annex. The owners have undertaken substantial renovations to the property’s structure, fittings and garden. It is situated on the edge of Seagrove Bay, to the east of the famous sailing and holiday village of Seaview on the Isle of Wight.

The Old Boathouse combines period charm with superb sea views and modern luxury accommodation. It is thought that the early 19th Century property was constructed as an ornamental addition to the Seagrove Manor Estate. It was the fashion to have coastal follies or Œcottage orné’ as part of an estate’s landscape design and the Old Boathouse may well have been commissioned by Capability Brown or Humphrey Repton, both of whom are known to have worked on the island.

Today, the property is an ideal holiday or permanent seaside home, close to the beach and in one of the prime sailing areas in the UK. Not far from the Yacht Club, the Old Boathouse captures the very essence of the English seaside and provides fantastic undisturbed views of the many sailing events that take place on the Solent.

Sam Biles, of selling Agents Creasey Biles & King said: “The Old Boathouse is a true landmark on the Seaview shore. Its location - virtually on the beach - is ideal and rare, even on an island. It is both accessible to the village centre and yet nicely secluded from the hubbub of the summer season in central Seaview.”

A joint effort between Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 104 and two Lifeboats saw the safe return of a family yesterday (Sunday May 1), after their yacht started to take on water in the English Channel.

Solent Coastguard, based at Lee-on-Solent, received a distress call from the 44ft Moody Ketch sailing yacht ‘Border Collie’ shortly after 3.00pm, reporting that they were taking on water.

In an attempt to rescue the family from peril, Rescue helicopter 104 was tasked to take a bilge pump to the slowly sinking yacht, which was in passage France destine for Portmsouth.

The helicopter’s crew lowered the pump and a member of its crew down to the stricken yacht to help pump out water.

Solent Coastguard requested the launch of RNLI Bembridge lifeboat Alfred Albert Williams after receiving a distress call from the yacht on channel 16.

The all weather lifeboat than took the yacht under tow to Warner Buoy in Portsmouth where they where met by “GAFIRS” (Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service) who took over the tow of the casualty vessel to endeavor point.

Thankfully, the four adults and one child on board were uninjured.

Remember where you read it first. First for Island news.

Fire crews remained at the scene today of a devastating house fire that has left one family homeless and many others effected.

Almost 24 hours after the fire engulfed one property and damaged four others, firefighters continued to damp down the property to extinguish remaining hot spots.

Crews were called shortly after 4pm yesterday (Saturday April 30) to reports of a blaze in Royal Exchange, Newport.

Check out the full story, as broken by The Gazette, here.

Members of the church and Island police are appealing for information after vandals struck at St. Mary’s Church in Ryde.

The truly shocking incident took place in the High Street on Thursday (April 28), where a 3ft marble statue of the Virgin Mary was knocked off its stone plinth and desecrated.

The head of the statue was removed and stolen, but is yet to be found. Parishioners searched in vain for the head in the hope that it could be repaired. It is possible it may have been thrown into a nearby garden.

Anyone with information or anyone that discovers the head are kindly asked to contact the church office on 01983 812127.

The parish priest, Fr. Anthony Glaysher, who is at present leading a pilgrimage to Lourdes, was most distressed when he heard the news of the statue. He was a horticulturalist before entering the priesthood and he has given much time and effort in upgrading the church garden with plants and shrubs. It is the only green space in the High Street, and St. Mary’s Parish have always been pleased to share it with the wider community of Ryde.

The statue of ‘Our Lady’ is a focal point in the garden. People often leave flowers at its base in memory of loved ones.

In two weeks time Fr. Glaysher is due to lead the annual May Procession in honour of the Virgin Mary, when the statue is crowned by a child, while the congregation sing hymns and recite prayers. This may now have to be cancelled and the garden closed to the public.