Weymouth RNLI inshore lifeboat aids fisherman
Weymouth RNLI inshore lifeboat with volunteer helm Nick Newman in charge was launched at 5.25pm on Sunday 14th October 2018. The launch was requested by Solent Coastguard after they received a call from a fisherman saying that he was in trouble and needed assistance.
The lifeboat was on scene in Balaclava Bay near to Portland Harbour at 5.35pm where they found the lone fisherman in a 21' fishing boat. The vessel had fouled it's propeller on the ropes of a pot bouy and was being held fast.
With a force 4-5 NE wind blowing the vessel was on a lee shore in rough seas and not far off of the rocks.
The fisherman had deployed his anchor in an attempt to stop his boat dragging the pot bouy and being forced ashore.
The lifeboat volunteer crew passed a line to the fisherman who was then able to pull in his anchor and cut the line that was holding him fast. The lifeboat then towed the fishing boat to Castletown Portland where it was usually berthed, arriving at 6.10pm.
Once the fishing boat was safely tied up the lifeboat was released and made it's way back to Weymouth where it was refuelled and made ready for the next shout at 6.40pm.
RNLI volunteer helm Nick Newman said," The fisherman was unlucky to have caught a pot bouy in the wrong place at the wrong time. However he was an experienced fisherman with a well equipped boat and was able to deploy an anchor and had the means to call for help, which all helped to save him and his boat."
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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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