A HELICOPTER was scrambled for a midnight search operation involving coastguard teams and RNLI volunteers for a man lost at sea in a sailing dinghy - leading to warnings for sailors to always let people know their plans.
Rescuers said the sailor was 'lucky' teams were able to find him and get him back to shore safely after he got stranded.
Two coastguard crews, both RNLI Weymouth Lifeboats and a helicopter were involved in the search operation for the overdue dinghy, which started just before midnight on Sunday.
Crews searched Portland Harbour and later Weymouth Bay after reports the dinghy was spotted by a moored cruise ship.
Alarms were initially raised by Solent Coastguard while CCTV - provided by Portland Port - revealed the man was last seen in a sailing dinghy around 6pm.
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A spokesman from Wyke Coastguard said: "We were tasked by Solent Coastguard along with Portland Bill Coastguard Rescue Team and RNLI Weymouth Lifeboat at 11.36pm to search for an overdue sailing dinghy.
"Based at Ferry Bridge teams searched the foreshore of Portland Harbour for any signs of the laser dinghy, while the lifeboats searched the interior of the harbour.
"Information from Portland Port was received suggesting a boat matching the description left the harbour via the northern entrance at 6.10pm.
"On completion of searches the teams redeployed outside of Portland Harbour and the coastguard helicopter requested to join the expanding search area.
"At 1.53am, Solent Coastguard took a call from the cruise ship Arcadia moored in Weymouth Bay reporting seeing something towards their stern.
"The all-weather lifeboat proceeded and located the missing dinghy with one person on board."
Portland Port CEO, Bill Reeves said: "Portland Harbour Authority were able to assist the coastguard by providing CCTV footage during a search for a lone sailor believed to be missing within Portland Inner Harbour.
"The CCTV footage showed a vessel, matching the description, exiting Portland Harbour towards Weymouth Bay via the North Ship Channel."
A spokesman from RNLI Weymouth Lifeboat, said: "Arriving on scene at 0.15am, an intensive search of Portland Harbour was carried out, with the coastguard carrying out a shoreline search.
"The search continued until 1.40am with nothing found. The CCTV from Portland Port was checked, and it was confirmed the dinghy had left the harbour and not returned.
"Just as the search was about to be extended out into the bay, with the addition of a coastguard helicopter, the cruise ship Arcadia anchored in the bay reported an object of interest in the water near to them.
"The lifeboat was immediately dispatched to the area to check out the object. It turned out to be the missing dinghy with a very relieved sailor on board.
"He was transferred to the all-weather lifeboat and brought back to Weymouth Harbour.
"The lifeboat recovered the dinghy which was also taken to Weymouth. The all-weather lifeboat was back at its berth at 2.25am while the Inshore lifeboat returned at 2.45am."
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The spokesman from Wyke Coastguard added: "He was a lucky man and it was also lucky that we have such a good relationship with Portland Port, which shared the CCTV and helped us narrow down the search.
"Without the CCTV, he may have been out in the water for a long time.
"It was a calm but long night. Once back safe on the harbour, the man was tired and strong safety advice was given.
"Our message to other sailors setting out is to always let someone know that you're heading into the harbour or Weymouth Bay area, and give a time of when you expect to return."
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