Swanage Lifeboat responds to a Mayday at St Alban s Head

Pagers sounded at 3:50 p.m. The launch of the ALB was swift, given the immediacy required in answering a Mayday call. By 4:25 p.m. the ALB was alongside the casualty vessel, a 40 foot sailing yacht with four persons on board (and a dog). The crew were novices at sailing and the swell and waves (a result of a strong ebbing, spring tide and a moderate south westerly wind) had made them sea-sick and abort their attempt at passing through the tidal race.

Two volunteer crew members from the ALB were put aboard to assess the situation. The casualties were not in serious peril and were relieved to see help arrive. The tasking was downgraded from a Mayday. The two lifeboat crew took the helm and safely navigated through the tidal race to calmer waters. The ALB escorted the casualty vessel to the safety of a mooring in Studland Bay.

The two volunteer crew members reboarded the lifeboat which then returned to station having wished the casualty vessel's crew a safe onward passage.

ALB Crew: (Coxn) Gavin Steeden, Dave Turnbull, Matthew Steeden, Bryan Jones, Alice Haw, Neil Brooks
Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Neil Collings, (Winch) Jeremy Stein, Jack Thompson, Emily Condie

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]

Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 488243, [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]

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