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We tried to get away from the Bream, so many around off Swanage. Eventually we found some better fish when the tide picked up. A Blonde ray about 7lb and some bigger ones dropped due to line breakages.

I didn’t expect an epic answer like that Bob. Glad it’s no lasting damage and an easy fix.

That sure made it a long day and very pleased that Bob is such a great guy and not one to panic.

Glad you got back safe bob, very frustrating for you though. 👍. Colin.

So just to confirm for the benefit of everyone, if a pan pan is called the coastguard will assume you are safe and request you attempt to find a friendly or commercial tow. In the event that the cg see you cannot secure a tow they may elevate the call to a mayday and task the lifeboat, the clue is in their name, they are there to protect life when in danger which is exactly what happened here. Well done bob on managing your situation as you did, text book actions.

I have read your report again and note that a Pan Pan was used, so after questioning they are assuming you are safe and anchored. They upgrade to a RNLI callout when darkness has fallen and no tow has recovered you. What a frustrating and long day, when things go wrong at sea they seem to take much longer than anywhere else.

As you say Rob what goes on tour stays on tour, all i can say is that Rob S definately was limping before the days fishing!

Tripped the anchor with alderney ring set up, pulled anchor in midship over the gunnal on chanbilly into rhino bucket on deck. Unclip the bouy and left anchor in the bucket on deck just incase but didn't put new cable ties on. So heading in chatting to Ady explaining we nip pass the end of Hengistbury head groyne about 50ft away but I don't see the point because if anything goes wrong it's then time critical so passed about quarter mile off then within couple of minutes the boat went hard to port or starboard, correcting the steering but not responding as I was expecting. 1st thought was I'd run over pot buff or line and it was around the leg/props and pulling us back into neutral and ady went to see if we had caught something as i lifted leg up, no all clear he said Hmmmm I went from lock to lock on the wheel and ask ady is it moving? Only a little he said we swapped positions and I called are you moving the wheel? yes ady replied! Straight back into the wheelhouse to share the news we've lost steering and to grab cable ties to retrip the anchor. Anchor out boat save called coastguard at 17.27 explained situation and they said they'd put Pan pan couple of times with 10mins intervals and be back in touch. I did say only other vessels in sight were sailing boats, so I didn't hold out much hope. A young lad who works on mudeford ferry came out in his 5m rib and offer a tow but I explained we're 2.5ton 27ft and the boat suffers from the bow, wheelhouse catching the wind so I would prefer to wait for the lifeboat he also agreed. At this time sun was setting and all 3 of us were wondering why the lifeboat hadn't been tasked already (time approx 19.00) Coastguard kept asking if we could arrange a commercial tow but I explained that if I could it would be well into darkness which isn't ideal. 8pm after speaking to Coastguard again they tasked mudeford lifeboat which promptly arrived took us under tow and back to my mooring up the river, which we arrived at 22.00. Today I've been on Chanbilly and found bracket holding power steering has broken on the weld so fingers crossed 🤞 it's a very easy fix

Thanks Terry, good to hear you out there with the PBSBAC presence filling the airwaves.

Sounds like some sort of initiation ritual..... what happens on Looby stays in Looby!! R