The onEdition photographic team based in Cowes for the duration of Skandia Cowes Week seem to be taking on a new role in addition to their photographic skills.

While out on the water yesterday lining themselves up for some dramatic, high wind shots, during the second day of the regatta, Matt Dickens and team went to the aid of a young crewmember who was washed off a yacht during a gybe just off the Green.

Chatting about his ‘International Rescue’ mission a bedraggled-looking Dickens commented: “The worst thing about that particular one was the fact that she had a rope wrapped round her neck and got dragged along for a while. We saw her go over then lost sight of her which was a bit concerning. Fortunately we found her, dragged her into the RIB then waited for a while until it became less lumpy and then put her back on the yacht.”

Today in a building breeze while waiting for yet another dramatic shot during the Squib start just off the Squadron line Dickens and RIB driver Caspar Craven were called in again to assist a crew who were having difficulties with a wayward spinnaker, Dickens continued: “Yes, we were on the scene again this morning. This time it was an older couple who’d managed to get the spinnaker wrapped around the jib and couldn’t get anything down. The whole lot was thrashing around. The helmsman was struggling a bit so I got on and gave them a hand and cut some lines. We just released the lines enough so they could operate their jib and get themselves back in.”

Team OnEditon’s rescue missions seem to have had little detrimental effect on their photographic skills. Check out yachtingworld.com’s Cowes Week Gallery for a selection of onEdition’s shots.