All weather lifeboat tasked to yacht in Studland Bay

Having tried unsuccessfully to free the entanglement, the yacht's crew requested help and Swanage all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was tasked. At 5:02pm the ALB was off the end of its slipway and on the way to Studland. On arrival, two volunteer crew members were put on board the casualty vessel to assess the situation and try to free the rudder.

Despite several attempts at freeing the ropes, including the ALB gently trying to pull the yacht free, the decision was made to cut the mooring tackle loose from the seabed and tow the yacht to Swanage. Once safely on the RNLI mooring in Swanage Bay, a diver was tasked to release the mooring tackle from the yacht's rudder.

The lifeboat was back at the station at 7:08pm.

ALB Crew: (Coxn) Gavin Steeden, Ben Jarvis, Fergus Holley, Neil Brooks, Scott Turner, Gary Buglass
Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Paul Meacham, (Winch) Nigel Bower, Julian Vass, Archie Burgess

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]

Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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