http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/latest The latest launch info from Swanage Lifeboats en-us Swanage Lifeboat Station 03/07/2009 01:56:19 20 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=519 Portland Coastguard requested assistance to a 21 foot angling vessel out of Poole, due to engine failure 21Nm SSE of St. Aldhelms Head. The ALB launched and proceeded to the scene where a yacht was now standing by the casualty awaiting their arrival. The yacht was then thanked for attending and proceeded on passage. The Lifeboat attached a towline and started the return trip to Swanage. With the casualty moored on the RNLI mooring the Lifeboat was released to return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 01/07/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=518 Portland Coastguard initially requested the launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat to go to the assistance of a 33' yacht aground to the WSW of Chapman's Pool. However once the Coxswain arrived at station he decided to take the Inshore Lifeboat too as it would be useful in the shallow water. The lifeboats launched with the faster ILB arriving on scene first. A crewman was put aboard the yacht to speak to the skipper and to look for any damage. In the time it had taken the lifeboats to arrive the tide had risen slightly and the yacht was now starting to float. The ILB crew attached their towline and very gently pulled the yacht to the South and into deeper water. The yacht's bilges were checked for leaks, as no problems were found the skipper was happy to continue on passage to Weymouth and both lifeboats were released to return to Swanage. Swanage Lifeboat Station 24/06/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=517 Portland Coastguard received a call from Solent Coastguard to say that they had just received a call for assistance from a 50' Fairline motor cruiser. The cruiser had earlier radioed in to say that they had lost drive on one engine possibly caused by hitting an underwater oject. They were returning home on one engine when they started to smell burning coming from the engine room, there also seemed to be water in the bilges. Portland Coastguard immmediately requested the launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat and vessels in the area were asked to make their way to the cruiser. The lifeboat launched and headed to the casualty's position, 6Nm East of Durlston Head. The salvage pump was made ready just in case. Once on scene station mechanic, Dave Turnbull, was put aboard to assess the situation. He was able to confirm that the boat was taking in a small amount of water through the shaft seal due to catastrophic failure of the shaft coupling. A tow line was connected and the slow tow back to Poole commenced. The speed was kept to 3 knots as the damaged shaft was overheating and could damage its seal further causing more water to leak in. Once outside Salterns Marina a crew from the yard came aboard and took the boat in tow so she could be lifted straight out of the water. The lifeboat was then free to return to Swanage. Swanage Lifeboat Station 19/06/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=516 Portland Coastguard requested Lifeboat assistance for the yacht Patricia which had fouled its propellor with its dinghy painter whilst manoeuvring in Swanage Bay and had then anchored. Another yacht had attempted to assist but without succes because of the sea state in the bay. The ALB was launched and towed the yacht to the RNLI mooring where a diver from the commercial dive boat Mary Jo spent 15 minutes clearing a rope from the yacht's propellor. The ALB remained alongside the yacht until the job was completed and the yacht was happy to proceed back to Poole. The ALB was the released to return to station at 14:57. Swanage Lifeboat Station 11/06/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=515 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of Swanage's Inshore Lifeboat to assist in the recovery of a fallen climber at Cattle Troughs (aprox 0.5Nm West of Anvil Point). The climber had fallen about 40' and needed to be evacuated as soon as possible. When the lifeboat arrived on scene the helicopter was there and 2 lifeboat crew were put ashore to help get the casualty into the helicopter's stretcher. Once this was done the casualty was winched up and taken to Dorchester A&E. The lifeboat crew then gathered up some of the climber's gear and waited while Swanage Coastguard Cliff team helped to recover the 2 climbers that were left at the bottom of the cliff. Both were suffering from shock but were able to climb back up. On the way back to the lifeboat station the ILB was called back to Anvil Point to assist a kayaker that appeared to be in difficulties. He and his kayak were taken aboard and returned to the lifeboat station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 30/05/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=514 Just after 0830hrs the Lifeboat launched again, this time to the yacht ‘Celeste’ who had suffered rudder failure about 6nm ESE of Durlston Point. The yacht was running before a light breeze and initially was making 6knots away from the Lifeboat, but the crew managed to turn the boat into the wind and furl the sails. Alongside a short while later, 2 crewmen were put aboard the yacht and tow attached. Good progress was made towards Poole Harbour and, in the calmer waters of the Swash channel, the crew of the yacht managed to temporarily fix the steering. Happy to continue into Poole under their own steam to make more permanent repairs, the Lifeboat left the scene and returned to station just after 1130hrs. Swanage Lifeboat Station 25/05/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=513 The Bank Holiday weekend continued for the Lifeboat crew when another call came in late on Saturday night. Dorset Police had contacted Portland Coastguard following reports of an injured person on a boat in Studland Bay. The lifeboat was requested to launch to assess the injured person and also to take 2 police officers to the boat. It was decided to launch both the Swanage Lifeboats so that the Inshore Lifeboat could be used to ferry the injured lady ashore if required. Once on scene the casualty was checked over and she was taken ashore to a waiting ambulance. Another person invloved in the incident onboard was questioned by police and taken back to Swanage to be treated by ambulance personnel there. The lifeboats were then released to return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 25/05/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=512 National Coastwatch, located at Peveril Point, were watching two dinghies sailing in Durlston Bay when it became apparent that they were struggling to make any headway against the strongly ebbing tide in the light winds. After monitoring the dinghies for a while, the Coastwatch personnel saw a motor cruiser standby the dinghies, confirming that they were in some trouble. Coastwatch informed Portland Coastguard who in turn requested the launch of the D Class Inshore Lifeboat, the Jack Cleare, to assist. The ILB was quickly on scene and took both dinghies in tow line astern. The sailors were taken on board the ILB and two crewmen manned the towed boats. Good progress was made back to Swanage Sailing Club where the sailors and craft were landed safe and well and the ILB returned to station at approximately 1510hrs. Swanage Lifeboat Station 24/05/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=511 The 12m yacht ‘Palamedes’ was on passage to the Channel Islands when she found herself snagged on a rope 15nm south of Anvil Point. Her ‘Pan Pan’ radio call was picked up by the ‘Barfleur’ and relayed to Portland Coastguard, who requested Swanage Lifeboat launch to assist. There was no direct communication with the yacht, so as Barfleur left the area communication was established via the cruise ship ‘Aurora’ who was passing close to the casualties reported position. As the Lifeboat progressed towards the yacht’s position communications improved and Aurora continued on to the Isle of Wight. After 1 hour at sea the Lifeboat arrived alongside Palamedes and was able to free the yacht from the obstruction using grappling hooks. The skipper and 4 crew checked the boat for any damage and, having found none, decided to continue passage under sail to Guernsey. The Lifeboat made her way back to Swanage and was on the slipway at about 0545hrs. Swanage Lifeboat Station 04/05/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=510 Just after midday a dive boat issued a Mayday distress call when two divers failed to surface on time form their dive. Portland Coastguard responded to the Mayday call and requested both Swanage Lifeboats attend the incident. Several local boats also responded and began making their way to the divers' location. As the Lifeboat Crew were assembling both divers were found safe and well. As a result, both lifeboats were stood down without having launched. Swanage Lifeboat Station 02/05/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=507 The Fishing Boat ‘Polly’ issued a Mayday distress call when her engine failed in strong tidal conditions just east of St Albans head. The two crewmen on board had only taken ownership of the boat the previous day in Portsmouth and were on their way to Holyhead in North Wales when they found themselves drifting helplessly. Portland Coastguard requested the Swanage Lifeboat launch to their assistance and with the help of radar and direction finding VHF equipment the Lifeboat was alongside ‘Polly’ about 15 minutes later. Crewman Steve Williams was placed aboard the fishing boat as it was rolling quite heavily without power. A tow was quickly established and the Lifeboat headed towards the calm of Poole Harbour. Poole Coastguard met the vessels at Poole Quay where ‘Polly’ was secured and the Lifeboat was free to return to Swanage. She was ready for further service at about 1220hrs. Swanage Lifeboat Station 25/04/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=506 The Bank Holiday Weekend was turning into a busy one for Swanage Lifeboat crew. At 17:21 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of the Inshore Lifeboat to go to the assistance of two girls drifting out to sea in a small inflatable dinghy, 300yds East of Ocean Bay beach. The crew were paged and the lifeboat was launched on service at 17:29. The lifeboat was quickly alongside the dinghy, the 2 children were fine and were taken back to the beach to their waiting family and Swanage Coastguard. The lifeboat was then released to return to station. Swanage Lifeboat Station 11/04/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=505 At 21:55 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat to go to the assistance of a 45' yacht aprox 8Nm South of Anvil Point lighthouse. The yacht was becalmed and due to suffering engine failure 5 days earlier had now lost most of its electrics due to flat batteries. The yacht's skipper was concerned about drifting out towards the shipping lanes in an unlit boat with no means of communication. Before his radio battery went flat he called Portland Coastguard to advise them of their situation. The lifeboat launched and was alongside the dimly lit yacht 40 minutes later. A towline was passed across and the two boats made their way back to Swanage. The yacht was secured to the Lifeboat mooring in Swanage Bay and two of their batteries taken ashore for charging. SeaStart attended the yacht the next morning but there was nothing that could be done with the engine so they escorted them under sail back to Lymington. Swanage Lifeboat Station 10/04/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=504 At 17:43 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat to go to the assistance of a 26' yacht in difficulties in the tidal race south of St Albans Head. The yacht's engine had failed and with the falling wind the yacht was being swept West into the overfalls. The lifeboat launched and was alongside the yacht 25 minutes later. Assistant Mechanic Matt Steeden was put aboard the yacht to secure a towline and check the yacht's crew were OK. With the towline rigged the slow tow home started, both boats made it back to Swanage just over an hour later. The yacht was secured to the lifeboat mooring and the crew brought ashore so they could make arrangements to get the yacht fixed. Swanage Lifeboat Station 15/03/09 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=503 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat to assist in the search for a missing male who had last been seen swimming out to sea from Sandbanks. Both the Poole lifeboats were on scene, Swanage and Mudeford lifeboats had been tasked to assist. The lifeboat crew were paged but just as the lifeboat was about to launch a call came in to say that Poole ILB had recovered the man and were taking him ashore. All units were stood down. Swanage Lifeboat Station 27/02/09