Saturday and Sunday 11th/12th October 2003

A strong Easterly Wind was the main excuse for a very busy weekend for the crews of Poole Lifeboat Station. It started Saturday evening, the Inshore lifeboat went out to assist a broken down speedboat in the harbour.
When the ILB arrived at the scene the boat “Tequilla Sunrise” was already being towed back to Dolphin Quay by a passing boat, the ILB escorted them back and checked that the casualties were all ok.
Sunday Lunchtime the pagers went off and the ILB was launched to help an exhausted windsurfer that found himself in difficulty off Hutchings Buoy. The ILB took the windsurfer and his rig back to Hamworthy Park.
Just as the crew was getting changed back at the station a capsized wayfarer dinghy need assistance at the harbour entrance. The 2 people in the water were extremely cold, one of them was an 11yr old boy, and the ILB administered first aid and took the casualties and dinghy back to shore.
The ILB was then tasked to help another dinghy off Brownsea Island that had a rope around its prop; the boat called “Oshi” had two people on board.
To round off the afternoon, the ILB then went to abet a capsized wayfarer at “Wills cut”.
The All Weather Lifeboat was also launched at 2.20pm to an
11 ½ metre yacht “Papillon” who had got into difficulty when her engines had failed some 7 miles off to sea. The strong easterly winds made conditions extremely testing, the Lifeboat found the stricken vessel and towed her back to the safety of Dolphin Quay. It is fair to say that it was an exhilarating shout due to fierce sea conditions and the 3 people onboard the yacht were mighty glad to see the Lifeboat.

ILB Crews
Gavin McGuinness - Helmsman,Richard bernard,Richard Skerman.

Paul Singleton - Helmsman,Gavin McGuinness,Mike Haw.

ALB Crew
Jon Clark - Coxswain, Andy Elton, Anne Millman, Danny Hawkes,Mike Hallard,John Vine.