Pagers sound marking the start of the month to assist 40’ yacht with rudder foul
Swanage lifeboat were paged Saturday evening after the UK Coastguard were contacted by a 40’ yacht, the ‘Ocean Gem’. She had fallen foul of fishing gear close to the entrance of the Swash channel on the approach to Poole Harbour. With her rudder tangled assistance was required.
The lifeboat launched and plotted a route to the casualty, who informed the lifeboat that they had managed to free themselves from the seabed but were still towing some line and floats. With the lifeboat on-scene and monitoring the situation the yacht’s intention was to sail into Studland Bay to anchor for the night.
With the lifeboat escorting slow progress was being made by Ocean Gem with light winds and trailing fishing gear so the Skipper agreed the best option was to take a tow back to Swanage Bay and the safety of the RNLI’s mooring. More facilities would be available if necessary to help them clear the gear and check for other damage in the morning.
Swanage lifeboat volunteer crew passed a tow and best speed was made back to Swanage. Once on the mooring the crew of the yacht were happy to remain onboard and the lifeboat was released to return to station. The volunteers were all ashore by 11.15pm
Coxswain Robert Aggas said “As a charity the RNLI launch to assist all vessels on the 19,000 miles of coastline around the UK and it’s good to see the yacht was well prepared and took the right actions. They called for help before attempting their own release. Had the situation developed the lifeboat was already underway”.
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For more information please telephone Becky Mack, Swanage RNLI Volunteer Press Officer on 07812 558487 or at [email protected]
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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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