Poole lifeboat crews launched to yacht in collision with Chain Ferry
Poole lifeboat crews launched to yacht in collision with Chain Ferry
Lifeboats News Release
Both Lifeboats were tasked at 6.25pm (Saturday 11 August) by UK Coastguard as a report had come through that a yacht had collided with the Chain Ferry at the entrance of the harbour.
The lifeboats were swiftly on scene and found a 30ft yacht with two people on-board trapped against the chain ferry on the seaward side.
There was a spring tide that was flooding, this was pinning the yacht alongside, the lifeboat found the yacht crashing against the Bramble Bush Bay, the Chain Ferry which runs on chains across the entrance of the harbour, the fierce tide was relentless.
Poole lifeboat, Sgt Bob Martin (Civil Service No. 50) was first on scene and assessed the situation and it was decided to get the vessel off the Chain ferry before any serious damage was done, the lifeboat manoeuvred close enough to the yacht to connect a towline, the people on board the yacht prepared themselves as the lifeboat took the strain, the boat was banging and crashing hard against the Chain Ferry’s steel hull as the lifeboat crew pulled the stricken yacht clear off the Ferry, the inshore lifeboat was stood by ready if needed.
The lifeboat pulled the yacht alongside and clear of the Chain Ferry, one of the lifeboat crew was transferred across to check that the two people on board were okay and that the yacht had not suffered any serious damage or ingress, all checked out okay and the two people on board although shaken, were okay to proceed under their own power and headed back into Poole Harbour.
Both boats returned back to station and after refuelling were ready for service by 7.30pm.
Volunteer helm Jonathan Clark said;
‘This was a difficult job, in challenging conditions, the spring tide was at its peak. It was a similar scenario that happened in 2001 on the other side of the Chain Ferry when the yacht disappeared underneath with one person in it. The sea is unpredictable and it’s a notorious bottle neck in the harbour which has caught many experienced seafarers out, thankfully it was a good outcome’.
Paul Glatzel Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager commented
‘What looks a straightforward rescue was in fact an incredibly challenging and skillful rescue by the Helm and Crew of the Poole Lifeboats, we are delighted that all involved are safe and well’
For more information please telephone Anne-Marie Clark, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07887 855073 - [email protected] or Dave Riley, National Media Officer on 07795 015042 - [email protected] or contact RNLI Newsdesk on 01202 336789
hospital.
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.
