Poole Lifeboat was tasked just after 1.30pm (Thursday May 30) to assist a 24ft motor boat that had ran aground in the vicinity of Giggers Island at the entrance to the Wareham Channel.
Conditions in the harbour were good, with a slight westerly wind.
The vessel with 3 people on-board was high and dry on the mud and at the time the Atlantic Lifeboat Sgt Bob Martin could not get near to them as there was very little water, the tide would not be coming back for some time, so after the crew had checked that all on board the vessel were okay, they then returned back to the station.
Meanwhile the UK Coastguard had requested that the D Class launch just after 3pm to assist and support the Coastguards mud rescue team who had mustered, the D Class picked up the Coastguards at Swineham point and transported them and their equipment to the mud bank where they made their way across to check on the welfare of the people on-board the stricken vessel and carry out their tasking.
The lifeboat took the mud team back ashore then returned back to station, the people on- board the vessel were happy to wait for the tide to come back. The Atlantic had been re-tasked to check on a vessel a 26ft Yacht that was also aground in the Wareham Channel, the person on-board was quite happy to sit it out at anchor and wait for the returning tide.
Both lifeboats returned back to station, when at just after 6.30pm both lifeboats were tasked again to check on the vessel that was high and dry on the mud bank.
With the Atlantic and D class crews working together and the D class, having the shallower draft, it took a tow line from the Atlantic and took it to the casualty vessel. With the Atlantic still in deep water it was able to gentle pull the vessel clear, into deeper water and it was re-floated, the lifeboat crew shadowed it back up to its mooring, in case there had been any ingress or damage.
As the D class was returning to station just after 8pm it got tasked to a vessel broken down near the Twin sail bridge.
The lifeboat was soon on scene and after checking that all on board were okay, a tow line was attached and they took the vessel under tow back to Cobbs Quay.
As the light was fading, a stint of 8 hours or so volunteering drew to an end, with 5 launch requests a change of crew and back up support at the station. The lifeboat arrived back and refuelled, the shore crew were on hand to give the vessels a good soap down to get rid of the mud and the lifeboats were ready for service after 9.30pm.
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.
