Saturday 22nd - Sudden Weather Change

A beautiful tranquil sunny morning in Poole bay soon disappeared under black clouds, when thunder and lightening and fierce squally showers caused chaos. Portland coastguard kept both Poole and Swanage lifeboats busy.

Both of the Poole Lifeboats were launched at about 1230pm to a report of two yachts colliding.

When the lifeboats arrived on scene they found that the two yachts who had both been at anchor all entangled. A squall came through which tripped one of the yachts anchors causing the vessels to collide hitting one another quite severely and thus becoming entangled.
The second vessels anchor had gone around the prop of the first vessel, this had caused some concern because if they had tried to release the anchors by pulling the anchor line too hard it could of pulled the prop shaft out and this would of resulted in the yacht immediately sinking.

The ILB was first on scene and crewman Gavin McGuinness jumped in the water and swam between the yachts to disentangle the chain from the propeller, the storm was raging on and some of the lightning bolts were pretty close, it was not the best conditions to be working in.

The crewman eventually managed to free the chain, which enabled the boats to go their separate ways.

Both Lifeboats were then tasked to a capsized "Merlin Rocket dinghy" which had one person onboard who had got into difficulty near the fuel barge. The man had been recovered by the harbour launch when the lifeboats arrived on scene, the ILB took him onboard and towed his stricken vessel back to Baiter Slipway.
Whilst on route they came across another capsized laser dinghy near to Salterns Marina. His sail had got caught on an obstruction under the water so he could not right his vessel however hard he tried until the ILB crew cut the top of his sail to free the vessel and took it back to safety.

Meanwhile the Lifeboat were tasked by Portland Coastguard to take a tow of Swanage lifeboat who had a yacht that had got into trouble off Old Harry. The yacht had been hard aground in the falling tide but was not showing any signs of damage.They took her under tow and handed the yacht over to the Poole Lifeboat. The mechanic off the Poole lifeboat went aboard the stricken vessel as the squally weather conditions continued to lash at them, the mechanic inspected the engine, and managed to restart it. The yacht made its own way into Poole escorted by the Lifeboat.

Both boats returned back to station Coxswain Jonathan Clark said " it was quite hairy out their Lightening was bouncing off the water quite close to us at one stage, and I was concerned about it hitting our aerials, I think we were all glad to be back alongside".

Further Info pls call Coxswain Jonathan Clark on 07764 320542