Night time rescue of yacht by Swanage RNLI

A yacht with no power and taking on water was eventually towed back to Poole Harbour last night, after a six hour rescue by the Swanage Lifeboat crew.

Just before 8 pm on Monday 28th July 2020, the crew were paged to go to the rescue of a 12 metre yacht that had lost all power around 1 nautical miles southwest of St Alban’s Head.

Advertisement 
Swanage lifeboat rescues yacht
ALAN PARMENTER

In search of the stricken yacht

With Swanage’s Shannon all-weather lifeboat currently undergoing maintenance, the temporary replacement Shannon lifeboat was launched and set off in favourable conditions in search of the stricken yacht.

Within 20 minutes the yacht was located and one of the volunteer lifeboat crew boarded the yacht to assist one of the yacht’s crew members to connect a tow rope. The other member of the yacht’s crew was taken safely onto the lifeboat.

With a tow established, the lifeboat started to plot a course back towards Poole and steady progress was made back past St Alban’s Head and the Anvil Point Lighthouse.

Swanage lifeboat rescues yacht
FERGUS HOLLAND

“The yacht was now making water fast”

However the rescue did not go to plan. Swanage Lifeboat Station reported:

“Unfortunately, the volunteer crew member on board and the casualty noticed that the yacht was now making water fast – so, in the shelter of Studland Bay, the yacht was secured alongside the lifeboat and the salvage pump passed across to pump the boat dry.

“Investigation showed the universal joint between the engine and prop had sustained damage, severing a water pipe in the process. The ingress of water was controlled and the lifeboat and casualty arrived at Poole Quay at around 1 am.”

Swanage Lifeboat nightime rescue
Swanage RNLI

Six hours after the initial launch

With the yacht now safely in the harbour, the lifeboat returned to the Swanage Lifeboat Station and was then thoroughly cleaned, re-fuelled and made ready for further service. By then it was 2 am in the morning, six hours after the initial launch.

Share this story

Contact us

Do you have anything to add to this story?

We like to keep everything up-to-date, so if you know more, please help us by getting in touch.

Advertisement 

Top stories

New BBC Winterwatch puts Purbeck back in TV spotlight In what is likely to be a final visit, BBC cameras will be returning to RSPB Arne in Dorset for the TV programme Winterwatch, to once again highlight the amazing ... 4 weeks ago Ten year transport plan puts Purbeck at top of wish list 3 weeks ago Purbeck pub Rivo’s Hub opens its doors as it revs up for 2025 1 month ago Swanage woman charged with shoplifting at the Co-op 1 week ago Swanage care home reopens after death of three residents 4 weeks ago

Most recent

Appeal to buy defibs in memory of Wareham boy Shaun Wareham parents Alison and Simon Colvin are raising funds for defibrillators in memory of their teenage son, whose life may have been saved if there had been one nearby 9 hours ago Tractor destroyed by night time fire in Swanage 21 hours ago Careys Secret Garden is best of the best at Dorset tourism awards 1 day ago The King of rock ‘n’ roll to crown Swanage’s Summer of Music 2 days ago Czech ambassador to the UK visits Swanage’s Chadwick statue 3 days ago