Both Poole Lifeboats diverted from training in rough weather search
Poole Lifeboats were out on exercise today, Saturday (March 3), the crews had launched late afternoon to take the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the channels and shallows of the harbour as it was an unprecedented low tide.
At around 4.30pm whilst out on exercise, the lifeboat volunteers were tasked by HM Coastguard to a report that an object had been seen in the water, it had been sighted somewhere west of Bournemouth Pier.
As both boats were at the entrance of the harbour, they were tasked to search from Sandbanks up to Bournemouth Pier. As the volunteers commenced a parallel search, the weather conditions were moderate to rough, with the fierce easterly wind biting hard, visibility was reasonably good, the first informant had given information that the object they had seen was orange and black.
The crews scoured the area, looking for something out of the ordinary against an overcast backdrop, the crews working together. As nothing untoward was found the Coastguard stood the crews down and the lifeboats returned back to station just after 17.30, after refuelling the lifeboats were ready service after 18.30.
Volunteer Helmsman Jonathan Clark said;
‘Low tides like todays give the volunteers the opportunity to experience a very different view of the harbour, bringing the chart to life. With the added tasking, the exercise became very real, even though this time a call with good intent, it was a good experience for us all as it was quite lively out in the bay’.
For more information please telephone Anne-Marie Clark, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07887 855073 - [email protected] or Dave Riley, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07795 015042 - [email protected] or contact RNLI Newsdesk on 01202 336789
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.