Poole and Swanage RNLI volunteers assist yacht taking on water
Yesterday evening a 10m yacht struck the training bank just outside of Poole Harbour entrance and was left high and dry on the rocks overnight while the skipper waited for the next high water.
The yacht, re-floated this morning and made her way to Studland Bay, where the skipper discovered she was making water.
The yacht’s manual bilge pump could just about keep up with the ingress, but with only the skipper on board further help was going to be needed to get the boat back to Poole, so the Swanage Lifeboat was requested.
Two crew were placed onboard along with the lifeboat’s salvage pump and the casualty headed under her own power towards Poole, escorted by the lifeboat.
The salvage pump was used to empty the bilges a few times on the passage to Poole, but the ingress was not swift enough to keep the pump running.
Poole ILB was called to take over the casualty and met up at 1100hrs close to ‘Aunt Betty’ cardinal mark. Crew and pumps were swapped, allowing the Swanage lifeboat to return to station.
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.
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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.