Blue Peter I, the crew's Atlantic 75 craft, was launched at about 10.20am, after coastguards received a 999 call regarding a wind surfer in difficultly west of Bognor Pier. The man was found and taken back to shore.

Just before 6pm, it was back to Bognor, where three teenagers in three inflatables were in trouble, but they were easily located and soon back on the beach.

At the same time, the crew's second boats, Spirit of Juniper, was launched to check the coast for any other inflatable dinghies adrift, though none were found.

Geoff Warminger, duty launching authority, said: "Even on hot sunny days the wind can still catch people unaware."


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