Swanage RNLI volunteer crew in 8 hour shout to assist yacht

The inshore lifeboat, George Thomas Lacy, was launched at 8:06pm to assist a yacht that was taking part in a race from Cowes to Cherbourg and back. However, the yacht crew ran into problems when the vessel's rudder sheared off and was seen drifting away. The yacht was now out of control in a position 24 nautical miles south of Swanage, very close to the shipping lanes and drifting east with the wind and tide. The yacht's crew broadcast a 'Pan Pan' to alert the UK Coastguard to their plight and warn vessels in the area that they were unable to control their vessel. Their radio message was picked up by the Commodore Clipper a cross-channel ferry on its way from Cherbourg to Poole. They offered to standby the yacht until the lifeboat arrived and to provide a communications link to the yacht's crew as their radio was struggling to reach the Coastguard.

The RNLI lifeboat launched, with 6 volunteer crew strapped themselves into their seats and made best speed in bumpy conditions to the yacht's last known position. The lifeboat arrived on scene just over an hour after launching and easily located the yacht due to the large ferry alongside! After checking that the yacht's crew were fit and well a plan was made to pass a drogue over to them followed by the lifeboat's tow line. The drogue is a water parachute intended to help steady the boat as it had no steering, which is tied on and streamed astern (behind) the boat. With the tow line and drogue rigged the George Thomas Lacy, and its tow turned to the North at 10pm and set a course for Poole Harbour.

After a choppy trip, the yacht was finally secured to a pontoon in Poole Quay boat haven at 3.15am. The lifeboat and its volunteer crew were then released to return to Swanage, arriving back on its slipway shortly after 4am, having covered a distance of just over 63 nautical miles.