Dungeness lifeboat assists yacht anchored by lobster and whelk pots

UK Coastguard tasked the Dungeness lifeboat to assist a 30’ yacht anchored by the stern with a string of tangled pots, 2 miles east of the station with two male persons on board, the youngest being 84 and the eldest (skipper) being 89.

Once on scene and after assessment of the situation together with the well-being of the two gentlemen on the casualty, second coxswain Trevor Bunney in charge of the RNLI Shannon class lifeboat ‘The Morrell’ put two of his volunteer crew on board and they managed to grapple the pot line up and cut the vessel free from the tangled ropes and pots. A tow was safely secured and the casualty was taken to Dover Harbour. The lifeboat later returned to station, washed down, refuelled and made ready for service by 10pm.

Second coxswain Bunney said ‘ the two guys aboard the casualty were very appreciative of our help and it was jolly bad luck they got caught up with the pots. The eldest guy has been a shore-line member with the RNLI for 50+ years’.

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