Shocking images of small yacht pinned to chain ferry

The RNLI has released footage of yesterday’s rescue of a yacht wedged against the front of the Sandbanks Ferry.

The RNLI says the two people onboard the yacht were lucky not to be injured, after their boat got stuck.

It happened at about 3.30pm just as the tide was going out, when typically there are strong currents at the mouth of Poole Harbour.

With the 22 ft yacht dangerously entangled with the 242 ft ferry, both of the Poole lifeboats and the Poole and Swanage Coastguard teams were called to rescue the crew.

The two people on board the boat, described as a 22 foot privately owned shrimper, were recovered onto the ferry without injuries.  Poole RNLI lifeboat removed the vessel and towed it clear of the ferry, which was then able to resume operation. 

It is unclear how the yacht became entangled with the ferry and a report has been made to the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

“Conditions in the harbour were choppy with a strong ebb tide and a fresh south westerly wind. The combination of the tide and the wind really hampered any chance of the vessel getting free,” the RNLI says.

When the Atlantic lifeboat was launched, one occupant of the yacht had been taken aboard the ferry but another was unaccounted for.

But by the time the lifeboat arrived on the scene, both occupants were confirmed safely aboard the ferry.

“The vessel was hung up on the side of the ferry, with the staves of the mast snagged onto the ramp, with the tide pushing it against the prow,” an RNLI spokeswoman told the Bournemouth Echo.

“The lifeboat approached to have a closer look to assess the situation as to make sure that all the people were accounted for and not on the vessel.”

The ferry was held up as the lifeboat crew recovered the vessel.

They used a tow line to pull the yacht clear.

“The tide was screaming as the lifeboat pulled the vessel free and towed it back to the steps at North Haven,” the spokeswoman said.

“Meanwhile, the chain ferry resumed back to the Sandbanks side and the D Class crew went to check that the people were okay. A member of the lifeboat crew went ashore and met the ferry as it came in. The people were okay after the incident, but a little shaken up.

“The Atlantic prepared to tow the vessel back to its mooring. The crew checked the vessel was seaworthy. It seemed unscathed bar a bit of superficial damage.

“They took the vessel back to its mooring just off Brownsea Castle, where the crew secured it and the casualties were happy to make their own way back via their tender.”