Three in a row for Poole Lifeboat volunteers

At 11.30 the Poole lifeboat launched to a report of a 37ft yacht with two people on-board who needed help, they were at the Poole Bar buoy, which is at the beginning of the Swash Channel heading into Poole. They had asked for assistance as their forestay had snapped whilst they were on passage, add to the mix, that they were entering an unfamiliar harbour, with the risk that their mast was coming down, conditions in the harbour were fine with a North Easterly wind 2-3.

The Poole Lifeboat volunteers were swiftly on scene and met the yacht halfway down the Swash Channel, two crew, one who is an experienced ‘Yachty’ himself, was transferred on-board, they spotted that the forestay had snapped and in turn had made the rest of the rigging loose. They quickly attached additional lines as a temporary stays, to secure the mast and prevent it from falling down.

The vessel was safely escorted to Poole Quay Boat Haven, after making sure all was well, the lifeboat returned back to station and was ready for service by 1.30pm.

Then at 5.45pm Poole lifeboat volunteers were requested to launch to a report of two missing people off the beach at Bournemouth Pier, the volunteers were on route and at East Looe channel when information came through, over the radio from UK Coastguard that the lifeboats assistance was no longer required as the persons were safe and well ashore, so the lifeboat headed back to station, whilst the crew were closing down, word came through that a 5 meter speedboat had broken down between Rockley and Lake Pier. The volunteers were swiftly on scene by 7.30, after checking that the two people on-board were okay they attached a tow line and brought them safely back to Rockley Park.

The lifeboat crew headed back to the station, after refuelling the boat was ready for service by 8.45pm

Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.