Poole Lifeboat was requested to launch to a report of a small dinghy with two people on-board that had broken down in the back of the harbour near to Goathorn Point.

The D Class, helmed by Stirling who had passed his helmsman training two days before, made its way across Wills Cut through the harbour then west of the islands to locate the stricken vessel.

Conditions were clear, there was a north easterly breeze, but it was pitch black. Using their torches and navigation the volunteer crew located the dinghy 100 metres west of Goatshorn.

Following a welfare check of the occupants, an RNLI crew member managed to restart the dinghy engine. The vessel was escorted by the lifeboat back to Lake Road slipway, where it had been launched, as it did not have any navigation lights and it may have suffered engine failure again.

As the lifeboat returned to station, the weekly fireworks illuminated the night sky at Poole Quay, so the crew lingered a bit longer to enjoy them.

The lifeboat was washed down and refuelled and ready for service by 10.30pm.