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Swanage all-weather lifeboat launches to 43 foot yacht
A busy bank holiday weekend continued for Swanage lifeboat crew as they were called to assist a yacht which had engine failure and a broken boom.
Just as volunteer crew members were settling down for a night's sleep, the pagers sounded at 10:59pm. A 43' yacht with a broken boom had lost power from its engine. It had dropped its anchor at the entrance to the Swash Channel - the busy shipping channel leading into Poole Harbour - and the cross channel ferry (Levante Jet) was fast approaching.
The all-weather lifeboat launched at 11:15pm into near-gale winds and choppy seas. Within 10 minutes it was assessing the situation on scene with the stricken vessel. The yacht was presenting a hazard to shipping so the Coxswain quickly decided it needed to be moved. Due to an unserviceable capstan which was unable to recover its anchor from the sea bed, the yacht was cut free from its anchor warp as soon as the the tow line had been secured. Conditions on the deck of the lifeboat were not easy; strong winds and torrential showers tested the crew's resilience.
The yacht was towed into Studland Bay to allow a clear passage for the ferry. The lifeboat then looped round and towed the casualty vessel into the calmer waters of Poole Harbour and on to a berth in Poole Quay Boat Haven. At 1:30am, having secured the vessel to a pontoon and checked that its crew were content, the lifeboat began its return to Swanage.
RNLI Media Contacts
Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]
Stella Sims, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 316675, [email protected]
Sam Haddad, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 01202 137713, [email protected]
Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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