Press Notice No: Duty 3
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Posted 19:15 GMT

Two people had a lucky escape today when their small fishing boat capsized and sank in Studland Bay this morning and they were picked up by another vessel.

Portland Coastguard was contacted on VHF radio at 10.30am by a boat called Mellow Yellow reporting that they had just witnessed a boat capsize and people were in the water. Portland Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 106 and RNLI inshore and all weather lifeboats attended the scene from Swanage.
The lifeboat crew confirmed that the crew of Mellow Yellow had safely recovered both the people from the water and the lifeboat then took them back to Swanage.
The sunken vessel is a Poole registered small fishing boat called Bobby B. The Bobby B was at anchor fishing for Bass at the time of the capsizing. Sea conditions were calm with light winds and light swell. Life jackets were reported to be on board the boat but were not worn.
Portland Coastguard said,
This incident is a reminder that the unexpected can happen at any time at sea, even in calm and apparently benign conditions so please remember to always wear a lifejacket.


Posted By: Julia Gosling

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401