14 Apr - Poole inshore lifeboat (ILB) launched to a report of a yacht and two men stuck in the mud in the Wareham Channel.

1115 A 6m bilge keel yacht had set off from Redclyffe yacht club, where the yacht had been over-wintered, with two men onboard. The men were on the way to North Haven yacht club close to the harbour’s entrance but, as they were heading down the Channel, they ran aground at the point where it reaches a bend and bears towards Rockley Point.

One of the men, aged 74 years, had climbed into their dinghy but had fallen overboard. The tide washed him a little way down the Wareham Channel as it caught him unawares. He managed to clamber ashore and although exhausted, he waded through the mud back towards the yacht.

When the ILB arrived on scene he was clinging to the boarding ladder of the yacht, stuck fast in the mud and waist high. He was extremely cold as he had been clinging on for some time; the wind was biting and extreme.

Crew Members Mike Fearn and Pete Smith went onboard the yacht and struggled to drag the man out of the mud – it needed all their strength as it took some time for them to manoeuvre and free him as the mud had wedged him tightly. Eventually they wrenched him out and transferred him and the other member of the yacht’s crew to the inshore lifeboat where they were checked out and kept warm, out of the gusts of chilly wind.

The ILB crew then attached a tow and worked at releasing the yacht free from the mud. Helmsman James Haw managed to eventually get it free by towing it off stern first, and then towed the yacht (bow first) and the two men back towards North Haven yacht club. As the tide was too low they had to take them in to the Royal Motor yacht club where they were met by Poole coastguards and one of the gentleman’s relieved wife. Both men soon recovered from their ordeal after warming up and did not need any further medical attention, just a good bath!

On their return from this rescue the inshore lifeboat was diverted to a broken down cabin cruiser near the chain ferry. The ILB towed this back towards Poole Quay where they were then met by SeaStart, which took over the tow so the ILB and very muddy crew could return to station.

Following their return it took the crew and shore helper an hour to clean up and refuel before being ready for their next service. At least they didn’t have to pay any extra for a mud facial pack that day!