Both Poole Lifeboats launched this afternoon (Monday September 11) at 14.10 to a report of vessel aground at Whitley Lake off Sandbanks Road.
The volunteers were soon on scene and found a 24ft yacht aground, one volunteer transferred across to check the vessel out, there was nobody on-board and signs that the vessel had broken its mooring and gone adrift, conditions in the harbour were choppy with a strong westerly wind 4-5.
A tow line was attached to the stern to tow the vessel from the lifeboat and another line from the top of the mast was connected to the D’ class lifeboat, with the intention to lay the boat over to help manoeuvre the keel loose from the mud and rocks, with both lifeboats working together, the vessel was successfully freed and pulled clear into deeper water. The lifeboat crew secured the vessel onto a mooring in Whitely Lake and informed harbour control as to where the vessel was made safe, then Solent Coastguard tasked both lifeboats to Studland Bay.
A report had come through that two paddle boarders had got into difficulty, they were being blown off-shore. Although there was a bit more shelter in Studland Bay conditions were choppy with squally showers blowing through and as the casualties drifted out they were more exposed to the elements.
The lifeboats were directly on scene and located the people clinging onto the boards, the volunteers recovered the two people from the water into the lifeboat and their boards. The crew checked that the casualties were okay and then landed them safely ashore at Studland.
As all was well both lifeboats returned back to station, refuelled and were ready for service by 16.45
Poole Lifeboat volunteer Jonathan Clark said;
‘Conditions out there were quite fresh today and could have deteriorated very quickly. These were two very different ‘shouts’ with both lifeboats working together and for the crews it was a job well done’.
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.
