21 July 2007 - Report of 2 people overdue

1830
At the end of a blustery, showery day, the pagers went off for the ILB to launch to a report of two teenagers who had not returned from their day out. The two lads had taken their 3m boat with outboard engine for a trip in the harbour. However, it soon became apparent that they had gone as far as Boscombe Pier (far too far for this unsuitable boat) and had later been escorted back into Poole Harbour by Poole lifeguards. Their concerned parents had reported them as being overdue as they had still not returned back to Redclyffe Yacht Club in the Wareham Channel.

Paul Singleton took the helm, his first after his return from injury. As Poole Bridge was up at the time, and some of the crew were stuck on the wrong side of the bridge, Paul also took Anne (who is really too old for this little boat now!) and another Paul, a trainee. Paul made his way to the last reported position where the crew were able to ask the fuel tender attendant if he had seen them. He informed them that the lads had fuelled up about 20 minutes previously and so the crew at least knew that they were heading back towards the Wareham Channel.

The ILB made its way towards the Wareham Channel where Paul’s beady eyes spotted a small motor boat in the distance and this was then confirmed by a Coastguard mobile unit, which had also sighted them from a hill within Poole Harbour.

Once alongside, trainee Paul put a tow onto the boat while Anne took the lads into the lifeboat and placed them in survivor bags and neoprene head gear as they were cold and wet. Helmsman Paul then slowly made his way up the Wareham Channel to Redclyffe where they were greeted by their parents, who, although angry with the young lads, were also relieved that they had been safely returned to them by the ILB crew. The ILB then returned to station at 2030.