6 hour rescue to recover yacht from the English channel
Swanage's all weather lifeboat was tasked to assist a 10m yacht in difficulties 19nm South of Durlston Head
The lifeboat launched and made best speed to the yacht's last known position.
Once on scene a crew member was transferred across to the yacht to assess the situation on board.
The towline was passed across, made secure and a slow tow was commenced towards Weymouth.
Once the casualty was a few miles off Weymouth the tow was handed over to Weymouth inshore lifeboat who took them the rest of the way in to Weymouth Harbour. The Swanage volunteers were then released to return to station as the storm broke, finally arriving back on their slipway a little more than 6 hours after launching.
ALB Crew: (Coxn) Gavin Steeden, Matthew Steeden, Roydon Woodford, Phil Palmer, Ben Jarvis, Fergus Holley
Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Andy Redout, Nigel Bower, Jamie Trumper, Paul Meacham
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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