10 Feb ILB returns dinghy to its owner

As the all-weather lifeboat was launching for its Sunday morning exercise, a report came over the radio that a dinghy had been found washed up on the beach in Swanage bay. Knowing that the lifeboat was already afloat Portland Coastguard tasked the crew to search for the motor cruiser that the dinghy had come adrift from overnight.

Heading out in thick fog, the ALB crew used the Laser Plot and GPS to set a course out of the harbour, and the radar to ensure that the lifeboat didn’t hit anything. Crew were also on deck keeping a sharp look out.

Just past the chain ferry a trace on the radar identified a possible vessel so the crew headed towards Old Harry Rocks. Fortunately by then (1025), the fog had lifted outside the harbour and the crew were able to spot a Sunseeker motor cruiser. Five minutes later the ALB arrived alongside the vessel, with two people onboard, and escorted them into Swanage bay where Swanage coastguard rescue officers were on shore with the dinghy.

Once close enough to the beach, Mike Fearn and Paul Taylor rowed ashore in the X boat and then Paul rowed the dinghy back out to the Sunseeker – not before getting suitably wet by a small wave (and being the Mechanic, Paul doesn’t usually ‘do’ wet – he’s more often seen down below in the warmth of the engine room!).

Once the dinghy was safely returned to its owners, the lifeboat and crew headed back into the harbour to continue the exercise. After fuelling up and washing the boat down the lifeboat was back on its berth and ready for the next shout at 1220.