Two Poole lifeboats were launched on Sunday Afternoon, 21 June after a 24ft Cornish Shrimper gaff rigged yacht was pinned against the chain ferry at the entrance of Poole Harbour in Dorset.
The Shrimper, with two crew, had become entangled with the chain ferry on the inside of the harbour entrance as the ferry was crossing to the North Haven (Sandbanks) side in a strong ebb tide. Both crew got onto the ferry, but the lifeboat tried to pull the yacht clear; the vessel was pinned against the side of the ferry, with the rigging snagged onto the ramp and the tide pushing it against the prow. A fresh southwesterly against the ebb tide had also made the local conditions choppy.
The RNLI’s Atlantic used a tow rope to pull the stricken vessel clear, and towed it back to the steps at North Haven. Damage was described as very slight. Later on the Atlantic towed the vessel back to its mooring, just off Brownsea Castle, where the crew secured it and were then happy to make their own way back to shore in their tender.
The RNLI has commented on a busy few days as the Covid Lockdown restrictions are eased: “Thousands have been flocking to the seaside. That means it’s been a busy period and challenging times for our lifeboat crews. Over the past two weeks, lifeboat crews all around the UK and Ireland have launched over a hundred times to help those in need,” the charity said.
In a separate post the RNLI has said, after it suspended lifeguard patrols in March , that it will run a reduced lifeguard service on beaches this summer and plans to patrol 70 beaches rather than its usual 240.
To make a donation to the RNLI visit rnli.org