The volunteers were called to assist a 42' motor boat with engine and steering failure close to St Albans Head at approximately 3:30pm on Saturday May 10th. The lifeboat launched with 6 volunteer crew aboard and set off towards St Albans Head. Arriving on scene 15 minutes after launch, the casualty vessel was found in quite a vulnerable position just west of St Albans Head. The crew of the motor boat had managed to deploy their anchor but the boat was lying awkwardly, with the wind and tide causing the vessel to roll. A lifeboat crew member was put aboard the motorboat to see how the two crew were doing and to see how best to assist them back to safety.
Due to the boat's engine and steering problems and its proximity to the shore, it was decided to take the boat in tow to the nearest safe haven. The tow line was passed across and an attempt was made to try and recover the anchor. Unfortunately the anchor was stuck fast and after 20 minutes of trying the decision was made to let the anchor go. Once the boat was free the tow was commenced to Poole Harbour.
Just over 90 minutes later the lifeboat and its tow entered Poole Harbour. The casualty vessel was secured to a mooring just off Brownsea Island and the lifeboat was released to return to station.
On the way back to Swanage the lifeboat was requested to stand by a broken down jet ski off Canford Cliffs until Poole Lifeboat arrived on scene. Swanage lifeboat was eventually back on her slipway at 6.47pm where it was washed down, refuelled and made ready for service.
Less than 24 hours later, the volunteer crew was called once again, and the all- weather lifeboat launched just after noon on Sunday May 11th to assist a dismasted sailing catamaran.
The crew of the dinghy broadcast a 'Mayday' call when the mast of their boat came down and they were being swept west with the ebbing tide.
The volunteer lifeboat crew were paged and George Thomas Lacy was underway 15 minutes later to come to their assistance. The dinghy was located south of Dancing Ledge and the two crew were taken aboard the lifeboat. The dinghy was taken in tow and a little over an hour later the crew and their boat were safely ashore at Swanage Sailing Club.
The lifeboat was then released to return to station where it was washed down, refueled and made ready for the next service.
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
