http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/latest The latest launch info from Swanage Lifeboats en-us Swanage Lifeboat Station 06/07/2008 01:38:34 20 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=468 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat to go to the assistance of 10m fishing boat 1½Nm South of Anvil Point. The boat's gearbox had failed, they had no drive and water was leaking in from the stern gland. The lifeboat launched and was quickly alongside, 2 crew and the portable salvage pump were put aboard. The water leak seemed to virtually stop once the skipper moved the prop shaft back into its correct place so the shaft was tied up to try and keep it fixed. A towline was passed across from the lifeboat and the slow tow back to Poole commenced. From time to time a small amount of water would leak in but it was perfectly manageable. Once back in Poole Harbour the casualty was lashed alongside the lifeboat and taken into their berth. Once safely secured to their berth the lifeboat was released to return to Swanage. Swanage Lifeboat Station 02/07/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=467 Monday night is maintenance night at the lifeboat station. The crew that were there were checking various bits of kit when the Swanage Coastguard Team went out on a shout to someone fallen at Ballard. After a quick scan round with the binoculars the casualty was spotted close to bottom of the cliff due North of the lifeboat station. The Station Mechanic told the ILB crew to get kitted up and when the local Coastguards confirmed that they needed further assistance the lifeboat launched and was quickly on scene. Two lifeboat crew were put ashore to assist in giving First aid and to prepare the casualty for winching into the Coastguard Helicopter. Once the helicopter arrived the casualty was placed into their stretcher, winched up and taken to Dorchester A&E. All units were then stood down to return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 30/06/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=466 The busy spell for Swanage Lifeboat continued when the pagers went off at 07:55 this morning. This time a yacht with a fouled propellor was in difficulties as they were anchored to the sea bed and stern to the sea causing waves to break over the transom of the boat. The crew were unable to get to the rope and could not free it on their own. After some confusion with their position it was confirmed that the yacht was 18Nm SE of Anvil Point. The lifeboat launched and the crew got comfortable for the trip as it would take over an hour to get to the casualty. Once on scene the lifeboat crew used a grapnel to try and pick up the rope. After several attempts the rope snapped and the yacht drifted free. The yacht was taken in tow to see if the rope that was still round the prop would float free. The skipper of the boat contacted the charter company and they confirmed that the yacht was fitted with rope cutter behind the prop. The yacht's engine was started and when forward gear was engaged the remainder of the rope came free. The towline was dropped and the yacht left to check her engine and steering. After about 10 minutes the skipper was happy that everything was OK and he was happy to continue on his own. The lifeboat crew were thanked for their help and returned to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 20/06/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=465 Rigging failure is not uncommon on yachts but losing your forestay means that you're at great risk of losing your mast too. This is exactly what happened to the single handed skipper of a 38' yacht 10Nm South of St Albans Head. The lifeboat crew were paged and the all weather lifeboat launched and proceeded to the yacht's last known position. A navy warship was standing by the yacht so it was very easy to locate. Two lifeboat crew were put aboard to assist the skipper in securing the sails and the rigging. Once the jib was secured to the deck the jib halyard was rigged to act as a temporary forestay and the mast was now stable, no longer in danger of coming down and damaging the boat or injuring the skipper. The brisk SW wind meant that the yacht was able to make good speed with her mainsail up and her engine running, the following wind also meant that the mast was being pushed forward keeping it steady. The lifeboat escorted the yacht back to the lifeboat mooring in Swanage and once it was secured the skipper was taken ashore to meet up with his wife. Swanage Lifeboat Station 19/06/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=464 When Portland Coastguard received a VHF radio call from a lady on a yacht 3Nm SE of Anvil Point saying that her husband had collapsed and was unconcious on the foredeck of their boat they immediately scrambled the helicopter from Portland and requested the immediate launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat. The lifeboat launched only 8 minutes after the crew were paged and arrived on scene at about the same time as the helicopter, 12 minutes later. Two lifeboat crew were put aboard the yacht with a first aid kit and oxygen. After initial assessment they started CPR and requested immediate helicopter evacuation. The helicopter winchman was lowered down and the casualty was then winched up into the helicopter and flown to Poole Hospital. The lifeboat then escorted the yacht back to Swanage where it was secured to the lifeboat mooring, the casualty's wife was taken ashore and then taken to Poole in a Coastguard vehicle. The Lifeboat was then able to recover its crew from the yacht and return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 17/06/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=463 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat to assist a 35' yacht that had suffered partial rigging failure, engine failure and the single handed skipper was unable to recover his anchor in ebb tide off Anvil Point. The Lifeboat launched and was alongside the casualty 6 minutes later. Crewmembers Kev Dimarco and Matt Steeden were put aboard to see if they could recover the anchor and to rig a tow. After 15 minutes of trying the anchor could not be freed so it was buoyed and the line cut. The Lifeboat then towed the yacht back to the lifeboat mooring in Swanage Bay were it was secured so the skipper could carry out some repairs before continuing on his passage to Brixham. The Lifeboat was then released to return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 12/06/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=462 Portland Coastguard requested assistance from the Swanage Lifeboat when they received a 'Pan Pan' call from a 6.5m RIB whose engine had failed 1Nm South of Dancing Ledge. The All Weather Lifeboat launched and was alongside the casualty a little over 10 minutes later. The 2 crew were taken aboard the Lifeboat and Station Mechanic, Dave Turnbull was put aboard to connect the towline and see if he could diagnose the engine fault during the tow back to station. Once back in Swanage Bay the RIB was secured to the jetty at the Council Boatpark, the most probable cause of the engine failure seemed to be that it had run out of fuel although the gauge indicated otherwise. The Lifeboat was then free to return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 08/06/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=461 A power boat out from Poole Harbour for the day reported to Portland Coastguard that she had seen a partially submerged canoe floating it Durlston Bay. Portland Coastguard asked the Inshore Lifeboat to investigate and a few minutes later was alongside both the canoe and the powerboat. There was no evidence to suggest that the (very old) canoe was anything other than a wreck that had been washed off a beach somewhere, so Portland Coastguard agreed that no further action was necessary. The canoe was emptied and taken back to the lifeboat slipway, at least there it no longer presented a hazard to other boats, and the lifeboat stood down. Swanage Lifeboat Station 31/05/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=460 At 09:04 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of Swanage's Inshore Lifeboat to go to the assistance of a 19' angling boat called "Pink Squid" with 2 POB that had suffered engine failure aprox 1Nm offshore between Durlston Head and Anvil Point. The Lifeboat launched and was alongside the casualty just over 5 minutes later. A towline was connected and the vessel taken in tow back to Swanage where it was secured to one of the jetties at the Council slipway. The Lifeboat was then free to return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 30/05/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=459 Having received a ‘999’ call from a girl somewhere near Studland stating her two friends had taken a dinghy and were now in trouble, Portland Coastguard asked for the assistance of Swanage Lifeboats and Swanage Coastguard. Both Lifeboats launched and headed round Old Harry at full speed, the Inshore Lifeboat staying inside the Training Bank and the All Weather Lifeboat moving down the Swash Channel. At this time Portland Coastguard received a further ‘999’ call from some people on Studland Beach who reported hearing cries for help. The ‘999’ call was patched through via VHF radio to the lifeboats and the caller attempted to describe the direction of the shouts. While the ILB was making contact with the callers, the ALB crew also heard shouts and found the two casualties clinging to the ‘No 6’ channel marker buoy. Both were hypothermic and in shock as they had been in the water for a number of hours after the boat they were in capsized and sank. The ALB requested an ambulance to meet them at the Studland Ferry slipway on Sandbanks. While transporting the casualties to Sandbanks their condition deteriorated to the point where one of the casualties was losing consciousness. The first informant was transported by ILB across the mouth of the Harbour entrance where she was questioned by Police; the other two casualties (who by now were showing signs of warming up) were taken to hospital by Ambulance. Both Lifeboats returned to station at around 0500hrs. Swanage Lifeboat Station 11/05/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=458 Amazingly just as the last of the crew were leaving to go home after the previous shout the pagers went off again, the 3rd time in 4 hours! This time a local angling boat 'San Gina 2' had reported that he had lost contact with a boat that he had been fishing with 'Hawkeye'. He was unable to raise him by phone, VHF radio or radar and was now concerned for his safety. However just as the rest of the lifeboat crew were arriving at the station Portland Coastguard called to say that 'San Gina 2' had located 'Hawkeye' he had suffered a total electrical failure but was OK. 'San Gina 2' offered to escort 'Hawkeye' back to Swanage so the lifeboat crew were stood down. Swanage Lifeboat Station 07/05/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=457 Less than an hour after leaving the boathouse from the previous shout the lifeboat crew were paged once again. This time a dive boat with 4 POB had suffered engine failure about 1Nm South of Kimmeridge. There were no other vessels in the area to assist and with the wind forecast to increase to Force 4/5 they needed a tow back to Kimmeridge. The lifeboat launched and was alongside the dive RIB just over 40 minutes later. The divers were taken aboard, given a warm drink and their boat taken in tow. After carefully navigating into Kimmeridge the divers and their boat were put ashore. The lifeboat was then able to return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 07/05/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=456 On a lovely sunny flat calm evening it is hard to imagine that a lifeboat would be required but at 19:09 Portland Coastguard activated the lifeboat crew's pagers after Dorset Police requested assistance to locate a girl missing in the Anvil Point area. The girl was threatening to jump from the cliff and Police were, quite rightly, concered for her safety. Both the Swanage Lifeboats launched and searched the cliffs from the sea whilst the Police and Swanage Coastguard searched the cliff top and surrounding area. About 25 minutes into the search the girl was found safe and well near the Eastern mile markers and all units were stood down to return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 07/05/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=455 At 1245hrs Portland Coastguard requested help from the Swanage Lifeboat after receiving a ‘Pan Pan’ call from a yacht escorting a French yacht in difficulty off Anvil Point. One of the Lifeboat crew who happened to be at the Boathouse was able to see the two vessels making their way into Swanage Bay, so as the crew gathered the decision was made to launch the Inshore Lifeboat to investigate further as few details had been gathered. A few minutes later the ILB was alongside the 40’ French vessel, which had sailed onto a mooring, and the crew called upon all of their communication skills to talk to the two French sailors who had about as much English skill as we had French. The yacht had been unable to start their engine in a building tide and failing wind – it seemed as though the engine was jammed in reverse gear. A passing dive boat very kindly checked the rudder and propeller and no obvious problems were found. As it seemed as though further help from an engineer was going to be needed, the ILB towed the yacht the short distance to the lifeboat mooring and the crew taken ashore to make further arrangements. Swanage Lifeboat Station 04/05/08 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=454 At 13:18 Portland Coastguard paged for an immediate launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat. They had received a '999' call from the crew of a motorboat that had broken down near Durlston Head and was being blown towards the rocks. Nine minutes later the Lifeboat launched and headed for the casualty at full speed. As luck would have it an RNLI Training boat was in the area and they were standing by the casualty at the Southern end of Durlston Bay. Once on scene 2 Lifeboat crew were put aboard the stricken motorboat as one of their crew was suffering from seasickness and a tow needed to be rigged. With a towline connected the casualty was taken to the Lifeboat mooring in Swanage Bay. Once secured to the mooring Dave Turnbull, the Lifeboat's mechanic, had a look at the vessel's engines. They had both stopped at virtually the same time and the problem seemed to be dirty fuel. The system was bled and both engines started but after a short test run one stopped again and it was decided to leave the boat on the mooring until the fuel system could be properly cleaned. The 4 crew were then taken ashore aboard the Lifeboat. Swanage Lifeboat Station 30/04/08