Tue 13 May 2003

The ILB was launched at 42 minutes past midnight to a report of a yacht aground at North Haven. The Coastguard were unsure of the information passed to them from the casualty as they couldn't understand everything he told them, but directed the ILB to start at the harbour entrance. The ILB found the yacht hard aground at North Haven. The yacht was being sailed single handedly by a very tired elderly American. It was found that he did not have a suitable chart of the harbour! The ILB Helmsman assessed that he would be unlikely to free the yacht with the ILB alone and requested that the ALB come and help him. The ALB was launched at 0110. When the ALB arrived on scene they found that the ILB had just managed to free the yacht. The ALB took the 10 metre yacht in tow and proceeded to Dolphin Haven. The American was on his way "around the world". His next destination was Spain. He did not like Poole or the English Channel and did not intend coming back!!!

ALB Crew
Jon Clark - Coxswain, Andy Elton, John Vine, Alex Griffiths and Richard Bernard.

ILB Crew

Stuart Newcombe - Helmsman, Anne Millman and Danny Hawkes.