Broken steering causes a yacht to drift perilously close to the rocks
Both lifeboats were launched to assist a yacht which was dragging its anchor, having lost its steering, and close to running aground on the rocks at the eastern edge of Kimmeridge Bay.
Shallow waters meant the ILB was the ideal boat to approach and make an initial assessment. The ILB established a tow and pulled the yacht into deeper, safer water. The tow was then taken over by the ALB with a plan to take the yacht to the safety of Poole Harbour for repair work. Two crew members were put on board the casualty vessel and the ILB was released to return to Swanage.
During the tow, now slow in progress due to the ebbing tide, one of the volunteer crew members managed to repair the yacht's steering. Having checked its engine and that the steering was indeed working, the tow rope was released. The ALB escorted the casualty vessel until such time that the Coxswain and the casualty skipper were confident for the yacht to be left to make its own way.
At 1:36 pm the Swanage Lifeboat was given the all clear to return back to its station.
ALB Crew: (Coxn) Gavin Steeden, Steve Williams, Matthew Steeden, Neil Brooks, Scott Turner, Adam O'Neill
ILB Crew: (Helm) Fergus Holley, Andy Redout, Ben Bamber
Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Gary Buglass, (Winch) Paul Meacham, Archie Burgess, Jeremy Stein, Neil Collings
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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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