
Poole RNLI tasked to a fouled prop then a full scale harbour search
Earlier today Poole Inshore lifeboat launched at 4pm to a report of 34ft Yacht with a fouled prop (Tuesday July 19). The yacht with one person on-board had encountered a rope around his propeller and was first assisted by RNLI lifeguards at Sandbanks.
The lifeguards went across on their jet ski to check if the casualty was okay, he was situated off East Looe, though a sunny day on shore, it was choppy out in the bay.
The lifeboat arrived on scene, they checked that the gentleman over, the RNLI lifeguards had freed the rope from the propeller, so the crew restarted the engine and checked that the vessel was okay, making sure that that it had not incurred any damage.
The gentleman was happy to make his own way back, so the lifeboat escorted the vessel, back through the harbour as far as Brownsea, then the casualty proceeded back to its berth at Davis Boatyard.
The lifeboat returned back to station and was ready for service by 4.45pm then at 6:10pm the pagers set off again, the inshore lifeboat was tasked by Solent Coastguard.
A report had come through that a windsurf board and sail had been found in the water outside Salterns Marina, taking into consideration the wind, tide and last known position of the windsurfing equipment a comprehensive search ensued.
Poole Inshore lifeboat searched along the coast up to East Dorset and that back to Baiter slipway, Coastguard units from Poole and Southbourne scoured the shoreline, then information came through that further equipment had been handed in ashore earlier.
Rescue helicopter 106 was tasked to search the North side of the harbour down to the ferry terminal meanwhile Poole all-weather lifeboat was launched, taking in account the tide conditions the lifeboat searched as far down as Rockley.
The harbour was teeming with water users, as it was a warm evening, the Coastguard units and lifeboat crews, stopped and asked paddle boarders, windsurfers jet skiers, kayakers, sailors and anyone out and about on the water and shoreline if they had seen anything untoward.
The lifeboat crews, checked mooring buoys and searched a wide area of the harbour, as nothing was found , Solent Coastguard stood the lifeboat crews down and they returned back to station by 21.15pm, the Coastguard units continued to search the shoreline.
Poole Lifeboat Volunteer Helmsman Neil Ceconi said;
‘A thorough search of the harbour has been conducted with the two Poole Lifeboats, two Coastguard units and Rescue helicopter 106, at this time nothing untoward has been found however further enquires are continuing’.
Neil added;
‘It would be advisable if people could put some form identification on their equipment, like a postcode, name or phone number’.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Anne-Marie Clark, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on07887 855073 - [email protected] or Dave Riley, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07795 015042 - [email protected] or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789
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The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.
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