Poole Harbour is a huge expanse of water with a narrow entrance through which the tide ebbs at great speed. An enormous chain ferry shuffles back and forth across this narrow entrance and continental car ferries enter and leave at regular intervals.

The current RNLI magazine reports a horrific incident last May, when the ebb was running ‘in excess of five knots’. A group of ‘X’ boats (classic open keelboats) were leaving harbour just as the ferry was starting to cross and a continental ferry was coming in. Other yachts and powerboats were also milling in and out. In the confusion first one, then two, three and four of the ‘X’ boats were swept up against the side of the ferry and held there by the fast current. A RIB went in on a rescue attempt but was then also trapped too. Fortunately both Poole lifeboats were nearby after responding to an earlier ‘shout’. The ILB went to the casualties but was itself trapped by the tide and then swamped by the wash of a passing vessel, one of the lifeboat men being dragged to safety by his girl colleague. Meanwhile one of the ‘X’ boats had filled, the two men on board managing to cling to the ferry, but the middle-aged woman crew was swept under the it. Fortunately the coxswain of the Brede ALB reacted quickly and drove round to the other side to search for the woman who eventually floated out semi-conscious. She was rescued by a crewman leaping into the water fully clothed, and rushed to hospital. The lady was detained overnight, but recovered without even bruises, which she put down to the amount of clothes she had been wearing.

Besides the giant chain ferry at Poole there is another vehicle chain ferry at Cowes which is quite often passed by DCA members. I for one will give them a wider berth in future!