With its anchor rope caught around its propeller just off St Albans Head, a 28 foot angling boat had to call for help from the RNLI.
The incident happened around 2.30 pm on Saturday 26th June 2021 about three nautical miles off St Albans Head.
The motor boat had become anchored to the sea bed with the stern of the boat pointing into the ebbing tide.
“Its position was getting increasingly dangerous”
Swanage Lifeboat Station reported:
“The force of the tide rushing past the boat was causing water to come on to the deck of the boat and with the speed of the tide increasing for the next few hours, its position was getting increasingly dangerous.
“The lifeboat launched and was soon alongside the stricken vessel.”
Swanage’s all weather lifeboat arrived to find that the vessel was now drifting west with the tide towards the tidal race at St Albans Head.
A lifeboat crew member was put aboard the boat and with the help of the skipper they were able to pull the anchor rope to the surface and cut it. The lifeboat then passed across its tow rope and started the slow process of towing the boat back to safety.
The Swanage all weather lifeboat was launched at 2.35 pm on Saturday 26th June 2021
“Suddenly the remaining anchor rope came free”
Swanage Lifeboat Station added:
“Due to the strong north east winds forecast overnight it was decided to take the boat into Poole Harbour.
“After about two and a half hours of towing, just as the boats got to the Old Harry Rocks, suddenly the remaining anchor rope came free from the angling boat’s propeller.
“The skipper radioed the lifeboat to tell them and they agreed to drop the towline and check to see if the boat could now make its own way unaided.”
The lifeboat escorted the boat for a few minutes and once the skipper was happy, the lifeboat volunteer got back onto the lifeboat. The crew and lifeboat finally returned to Swanage Lifeboat Station at 6.10 pm.
