Grounded vessel sparks call for Poole RNLI volunteers
Grounded vessel sparks call for Poole RNLI volunteers
Lifeboats News Release
In the first of two incidents Poole’s D class launched at 12pm, to reports of a 30ft yacht aground, listing in the Wareham channel on Friday (May 10).
The crew mustered and launched. Whilst on route information came through that the vessel had freed themselves, and fortunately for them, the tide was just at its highest and they got themselves off, as it would have been a long wait for them if not, the lifeboat crew found the vessel transiting down the channel and conducted a welfare check to make sure they were all good and the boat was ok, which they were and able to carry on with their passage to Portland.
The lifeboat returned to station washed down, refuelled and was ready for service by 1pm.
The D class was further tasked by the Coastguard on Friday (May 10) at 5.30pm to conduct a welfare check to a 19 foot fishing vessel with two people onboard that was aground at entry of River Frome.
The vessel was stuck firmly on the mud, the occupants were happy to wait for the high tide which was expected at 11.30pm.
The lifeboat arrived on scene and checked that they were okay, conditions were sunny with a slight south-easterly breeze.
The crew packed a dry bag with provisions such as water, chocolate bars biscuits and sun cream and hauled it across with the throw line as the mud was very deep and gloopy for the crew to pass through.
Using the heaving line the anchor was passed back and the crew set the anchor in deep water so that when the tide came back they would be able to pull themselves back into deeper water and refloat. The lifeboat asked the casualty to keep in touch with the coastguard and to let them know when they were safely ashore.
As all was well, the lifeboat crew returned to station , where other crew had stayed to help with the wash down, the mud in Poole harbour is very clingy and sticky, it takes some shifting.
The lifeboat was ready for service by 8pm.
This was the 25th and 26th call out for the Poole lifeboat volunteers this year.
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 142,700 lives.
