mjcoon
Well-known member
Not often!
Another one for the forum accident investigation board.
- Thread starter capnsensible
- Start date
capnsensible
Well-known member
Just the once I'd have thought.....
RogerJolly
Active member
Isn't that one of the cruise ship's lifeboats in the picture? Don't think they abandoned to the liferaft.
Don't like the idea of abandoned yachts boats littering the ocean. Will we get to runaway state where boats hit wrecks, creating more wrecks (see Kessler syndrome as applies to space junk).
Don't like the idea of abandoned yachts boats littering the ocean. Will we get to runaway state where boats hit wrecks, creating more wrecks (see Kessler syndrome as applies to space junk).
winch2
Active member
Just found a vid on YT. Boat at anchor in an estuary near the shore..another boat drags and wraps around first boats prop.. they get it off and start engine which is fine, running ok etc... THEN call the RNLI... Two big Aarons turn up to "escort" them up the river. It all seems just a tad.. wrong.
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Stemar
Well-known member
I very much doubt they called the RNLI. More likely, they called the CG, who tasked the RNLI. Agreed, that does sound a bit over the top, but I wasn't there
Jodel
Active member
If it's the video that I saw a week or so ago (and now can't find) In the Helford a yacht dragged its anchor towards another anchored yacht . The second yacht attempted to use engine to get out of the way but ended up withe the chain from the first yacht wrapped around its prop which stopped the engine.. At that time the CG were advised of the issue and the CG tasked the Falmouth lifeboat to attend. The Lizard lifeboat were training nearby so they attended too. I can't remember how the chain was freed from the prop but eventualy it was freed and it was decided to proceed to Falmouth to have the yacht lifted as there were doubts about whether there was any damage to the engine, shaft or prop. The Lizard LB returned to their training and the Falmouth LB escorted the yacht to Falmouth.
So one LB was sent to assist two yachts that were chained together and drifting. It seems like a prudent reason to send a lifeboat to me.
Stemar
Well-known member
Thanks, Jodel. As you say, a prudent move by the CG, especially if the lifeboat was already out. It isn't hard to imagine how a serious leak could develop from an anchor chain wrapped round a prop.
Buck Turgidson
Well-known member
I can see an outboard on the pushpit.
More effort required. Get the kids off and then fix your boat young man! or die trying..........
More effort required. Get the kids off and then fix your boat young man! or die trying..........
winch2
Active member
Without even thinking of starting a thread about it, I looked, then re ran the vid a couple of times and thght, well it doesnt look that windy and the donk appears to be working , plus you've got two good sails and there are mooring bouys all over the shop. Drift yourself up to a bouy, hang on to it then call a friend/tow. I still can't see the need to call International Rescue.
ylop
Well-known member
Rescue services / CG frequently say they wish people would call them as soon as the first issue arrises not once it’s become life and death. Criticising the other parties without knowing exactly what THEY said or help they ASKED for seems unnecessary.
Certainly there are people here with a wealth of experience who would never think of calling for help and can improvise repairs to every facility on board, but at one stage you didn’t have that experience. One day you may no longer have the mobility to make daring self rescues. Others may be missing either experience or physical ability to confidently fix their own issues so talk to the CG - who may assess that before you make a hash of it the lifeboat which is already on training would be a good fix (or many other scenarios). BUT everytime a salty old sea dog here declares calling the CG and the resultant response a waste of resources it makes someone who really might need the help hesitate before calling them - even if only to say I am going to try and sail out of my mess.
Mister E
Well-known member
No mast no engine and sea sickness so bad that at first you think you are going to die. Then you wish you were dead.
Yet still some think it is possible to sail the thing.
What do you think they would do swim in front with a rope in their teeth to tow the thing?
Yet still some think it is possible to sail the thing.
What do you think they would do swim in front with a rope in their teeth to tow the thing?
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
I have lost a rig at sea. We didn’t need to be rescued, but the rig was light, we got it back on board, and we had an engine. It was also a catamaran, so didn’t get the death roll. A very unpleasant experience all the same.
Stemar
Well-known member
From what little knowledge I have of rescue services and how they work, I would guess at the following sequence of events:
1. A problem arises, one boat has the other's anchor rode round its prop.
2. They inform the coastguard, without requesting assistance
3. CG tasks the lifeboat, on the basis that everyone would prefer a peaceful tow in now than a search for bodies later
3. The boats sorted themselves out
4. The LB stood by in case of problems
5. Everyone's happy except for one skipper who's got a lift out to pay for and a bunch of armchair admirals. Actually, the armchair admirals are sort of happy too, because they've got a good story to harrumph about.
1. A problem arises, one boat has the other's anchor rode round its prop.
2. They inform the coastguard, without requesting assistance
3. CG tasks the lifeboat, on the basis that everyone would prefer a peaceful tow in now than a search for bodies later
3. The boats sorted themselves out
4. The LB stood by in case of problems
5. Everyone's happy except for one skipper who's got a lift out to pay for and a bunch of armchair admirals. Actually, the armchair admirals are sort of happy too, because they've got a good story to harrumph about.
winch2
Active member
I grew up being told the the RNLI which is held together by bits of string and the odd blue stocking donation from the Cotswolds, is a very expensive critical service and is only there to save you from imminent death. Ive watched again and I cant for the life of me see the 'imminent death' bit in that video.
ylop
Well-known member
You were misled. The RNLI is far from a shoestring operation. The message you are sending of only call when it’s absolutely life and death is not the RNLIs message.
Individuals don’t call the RNLI out. They advise the CG of their situation. The CG staff consider which resources might be best to help, based on the information they get at the time.
IF the CG think it might be appropriate to launch a lifeboat they will call the Launch Authority* who will make the decision whether with the information s/he has it merits disturbing the crew.
Once on scene the Coxswain of the LB will decide what assistance is appropriate, which may or may not involve towing a boat to somewhere else.
So, you are blaming the skipper - but at least three other people decided a lifeboat was a good use of resource. People who’s job it is, to decide these things in the spur of the moment.
In these sort of scenarios people often say it is a waste of the crew’s time. Ask any crew if they would rather volunteer at a busy station where they do lots of simple jobs, or one that barely gets any call outs and I am sure I know the response. The people who complain it’s a waste of time/resource seem to have a different mindset from typical lifeboat crew.
*im not sure if the DLA gets asked if a boat is already out on exercise - but certainly the cox has a say everytime it is retasked.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
I know our local RNLI crew very well. All of them permanently gasping to be called. It is their life.
Mister E
Well-known member
Not imminent death but we have our first volunteer swimmer.
Wansworth
Well-known member
Rescued by the RNLI many years ago off Great Yarmouth in a rising gale.It was a delivery of a coaster and I was the sort of captain as the owner was a lorry driver and his son a mechanic.For some reason The son decided to empty the ballast tank in the bow so the coaster started slamming and bobbing about..I was sort of delirious with a inflamed foot and took it into my head we were heading for the treacherous sands.The owner contacted the coastguard who ordered the life boat out with a doctor.Bythistime it was dark and we had little idea were we were but they found the ship and took her into Yarmouth.Myfootneed antibiotic jabs ……within the week we set off again for the Humber,having profusely thanked the life boat crew and doctor….and paid a donation…..I recall it was a great relief once the lifeboat men came into the wheelhouse.
Stemar
Well-known member
The whole point of this sort of callout is to prevent imminent death situations. Far better to go out 10 or even 100 times to stand by and not actually be needed, than not to go out now, and have a much more difficult rescue or, even worse, a search for bodies later. It's also better value for money in my view.
I'm sure I could find plenty to criticise if I looked, but I'm happy to do my bit to keep lifeboats, including local independent ones, well funded. I pay a good bit more for car breakdown insurance, and they aren't going to put their lives in danger to save mine because I've done something stupid.
Poignard
Well-known member
I wonder what these heroic ‘death before dishonour’ chaps would do if, say, they were out doing a long trek across inhospitable terrain, and they fell and broke a leg.
Supposing that, while the injured hero was wondering what to do, another trekker came by and offered to help.
Would our hero stiffen his upper lip and decline the offer, perhaps saying something like:
Supposing that, while the injured hero was wondering what to do, another trekker came by and offered to help.
Would our hero stiffen his upper lip and decline the offer, perhaps saying something like:
‘No thanks old boy, it’s perfectly alright, I assure you. Rather than put you to any trouble, I will fashion myself a pair of crutches out of the branches of yonder tree, and hobble the 20 miles to the nearest hospital.”