Back-to-back shouts for Poole lifeboats

Following a report of a vessel aground at Whitley Lake off Sandbanks Road, Poole lifeboats arrived to find a 24-foot yacht aground. There was nobody on-board and signs that the vessel had broken its mooring and gone adrift. Conditions in the harbour were choppy with a strong westerly wind 4-5.

A towline from the lifeboat was attached to the stern of the vessel and another line from the top of the mast was connected to the D class lifeboat, with the intention to lay the boat over to help manoeuvre the keel loose from the mud and rocks. With both lifeboats working together, the vessel was successfully freed and pulled clear into deeper water. The lifeboat crew secured the vessel safely onto a mooring in Whitely Lake and informed harbour control of its position.

Solent Coastguard then tasked both lifeboats to Studland Bay where two paddle boarders had got into difficulty and were being blown off-shore. Although there was a bit more shelter in the bay, conditions were choppy with squally showers blowing through and as the casualties drifted out, they were more exposed to the elements.

The lifeboats were directly on scene and located the paddle boarders clinging onto their boards. Volunteers recovered them from the water and checked the people were okay before landing them safely ashore at Studland with their boards.

Both lifeboats returned back to station, refuelled and were ready for service by 4.45pm.

Poole Lifeboat volunteer Jonathan Clark said, “Conditions out there were quite fresh today and could have deteriorated very quickly. These were two very different ‘shouts’ with both lifeboats working together and for the crews it was a job well done.”