Call out the lifeboat?

[zoidberg]

I came across this tale, and am a tad conflicted. As best I can determine, neither sailing boat nor skippers were damaged, then-current weather was moderate, and each was within an hour's sail to the harbour at Dunmore East.

"Dunmore East RNLI responds to two solo sailors in successive call-outs.
Dunmore East RNLI volunteer crew assisted two separate solo sailors in a series of back-to-back call outs yesterday (17 August).

The sailors, each piloting their own 6m sail-only vessels, were part of the qualifying stages for a long-distance solo race. They had intended to make their way back to their homeport in France, however, unexpected weather complications meant they had to alter their course and seek the safe harbour of Dunmore East.
The day's events began with the first alarm at 1.57pm. Led by Coxswain Trevor Devereux, the team made best haste to a location west of Hook Head, approximately 4 nautical miles from Dunmore East. The first sailor, hailing from France and lacking engine power, was in good spirits and welcomed the RNLI's assistance. Given the deteriorating conditions, the crew opted to tow the vessel to Dunmore East.
Scarcely had they returned to port, at 3.17pm, when the Irish Coast Guard's second alert came through. Another sailor, part of the same race, also encountered difficulties, this time in a slightly different position, 1 nautical mile south of Hook Head. The RNLI crew, still in the midst of prepping their all-weather lifeboat 'William and Agnes Wray' from the prior mission, mobilised immediately. To ensure the safe transit of the second vessel, an RNLI crew member boarded, guiding it and its sailor back to Dunmore East.
The day’s efforts saw the seamless collaboration of the crew: Trevor, David M, Fergus, Paul, Luka, and notably Susan, who marked her first mission. Operations from the shore were managed by Deputy Launch Authority, Elaine Power and Lifeboat Operations Manager, Liz Power.
Lifeboat Press Officer Peter Grogan commented on the day's events, stating, 'Despite the solo sailors being very experienced and well-equipped, today's situation underscores the unpredictability of the sea. Their foresight to carry a VHF radio was crucial, allowing them to swiftly call for assistance when needed. They did the right thing by calling for help. We can't stress enough the importance for all sea users to maintain a reliable means of communication at all times.'"

Somehow, I sense Arthur Ransome's dictum doesn't apply to 'johnny foreigner'.

 

[MisterBaxter]

I'm finding it hard to understand what the problem was - no mention of rig failure, and surely four miles is about 30mins sail in a mini Transat (if that's what the boats are)?
We're they trying to make port before the weather deteriorated and perhaps struggling to make progress against a strong tidal flow and caught in some kind of race off the headland? I don't know that area so no idea if that's plausible.

 

[Mark-1]

I'm finding it hard to understand what the problem was

Me too. RNLI press releases are often a bit confusing, I guess they're relying on volunteers.

I can think of many occasions where my sluggish bilge keeler with a weedy bottom might need a functioning engine to get me safely on a mooring or anchored in shelter but those things look fast and nimble (and low freeboard to grab a bouy). If they really needed a tow there must be some missing information from the press release.

 

[ylop]

Me too. RNLI press releases are often a bit confusing, I guess they're relying on volunteers.

And written for a target audience of non sailors. Did I understand the second “rescue” didn’t involve a tow but rather just putting a crew member on board?

 

[dunedin]

As per the above posters, something is missing from the RNLI posters as to what the reasons were for calling the coastguard. In the absence of more specific info anything would be pure speculation.

However, I fail to see what the final line adds to this other than some trace of English bigotry?

Somehow, I sense Arthur Ransome's dictum doesn't apply to 'johnny foreigner'.

The rescue was in Ireland so not in UK waters anyway - so quite who are you calling “Johnny foreigner” - the RNLI crew and/or the racers?
There are plenty of British nationals who get rescued by the RNLI after going to sea unprepared.
And anybody who has followed any offshore sailing would have spotted that French based sailors - both racers and cruisers - often put us to shame in terms of their feats of ocean voyages, often at speed and particularly solo.

 

[lustyd]

RNLI press releases are often a bit confusing

I'd have used the word misleading. They're usually written for promotional, rather than informational purposes and always stress how useful the RNLI were even when they were only involved as spectators. They have one of the strongest marketing departments in the country! In their defense, they are probably less misleading than BBC news these days.

 

[scottie]

Perhaps easy to forget that RNLI is a transnational organisation despite the Royal

 

[rotrax]

I'm finding it hard to understand what the problem was - no mention of rig failure, and surely four miles is about 30mins sail in a mini Transat (if that's what the boats are)?
We're they trying to make port before the weather deteriorated and perhaps struggling to make progress against a strong tidal flow and caught in some kind of race off the headland? I don't know that area so no idea if that's plausible.

I suspect you are pretty much on the money with your post.

The stregth of tide and the tidal race are quite severe at certain times off Hook Head.

It was so lumpy in beneign conditions that first mate had trouble getting a photo of the famous Hook Head lighthouse from our heavy displacement 12 metre motorsailer.

As area of the Irish coast not to be taken lightly.

 

[Mark-1]

I'd have used the word misleading. They're usually written for promotional, rather than informational purposes and always stress how useful the RNLI were even when they were only involved as spectators. They have one of the strongest marketing departments in the country! In their defense, they are probably less misleading than BBC news these days.

I think you're failing to apply Hanlon's Razor. I do social media for a sailing club. Someone gives me some information and I pass it on in the most interesting form I can. Nobody tells me what tone the club want or what the objective is. I make it up for myself.

The next club along from us has a non sailing (fairly elderly) wife of a member doing social media who seems to muddle along like me.

I'm sure the RNLI have exactly the same issue. Nobody wants to do it, a reluctant person is press ganged into it and sort of does their best applying the 80/20 rule. They could phone round the crew and get the detail of what happened but there's a lawn to be mowed and dishes to be washed, much faster to cobble something together and post it.

 

[zoidberg]

However, I fail to see what the final line adds to this other than some trace of English bigotry?

I'm STILL conflicted..... and I'm not English!

 

[lustyd]

I'm sure the RNLI have exactly the same issue. Nobody wants to do it

The RNLI is a Billion pound organisation with practically unlimited marketing budget, which they put to good use extending their Billions of pounds. Anyone spending even a small amount of time paying attention will see the distinct differences between what was reported and what actually happened. Quite often it's not even creative licence, it's outright falsification. Having witnessed several incidents over the years and later read about them, and once having been the main character in one of their works of fiction, I can assure you that it's not because nobody wants to do it.

Sometimes they don't need to overexaggerate, and sometimes they are an exceptionally good service.

 

[MisterBaxter]

Reading the press release it seems pretty clear that the RNLI in this instance used the story to put out a specific message: if you're going to sea, take a VHF. An organisation like the RNLI will have a media/comms strategy and will create press releases designed to achieve specific things, which will include pushing out safety messages as well as soliciting donations.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

At a guess I would say the boats were trying to complete a qualification sail for this years minitransat which indicates that they are newcomers to Classe Mini. They probably haven't sailed this far alone and found themselves close to their physical limits. At that point calling for help, even if it's just a tow through a racing current isn't a bad option if you are at the point where you can't keep your eyes open anymore.

 

[Mark-1]

The RNLI is a Billion pound organisation with practically unlimited marketing budget, which they put to good use extending their Billions of pounds.

I assumed this was written by whoever volunteers to social media for 'Dunmore East RNLI'. If it was written by pros in Poole then, yeah, I'm wrong.

 

[bedouin]

Two in such quick succession suggests there was something in the weather that caused the issue and these are hardly inexperienced sailors.

Perhaps they didn't have the correct charts on board to feed safe to enter an unknown harbour at night in adverse weather conditions?

 

[zoidberg]

Two in such quick succession suggests there was something in the weather that caused the issue and these are hardly inexperienced sailors.

Perhaps they didn't have the correct charts on board to feed safe to enter an unknown harbour at night in adverse weather conditions?

'Perhaps' lots of things....

But look at the times reported in the press release. And, from memory, one can SEE the harbour walls from the reported positions. However....

 

[Stemar]

The RNLI is a Billion pound organisation with practically unlimited marketing budget, which they put to good use extending their Billions of pounds.

Yes, but I'm damned glad their budget is enough to rescue me should I need it - glad enough to add to their coffers each month; after all, I pay a lot more to the RAC, and they're unlikely to keep me from drowning. I also approve of their attitude towards rescuing the boat, not just the people, which is the French equivalent's attitude. Yes, they will rescue the boat, but they charge for it. The RNLI takes the attitude, quite rightly, IMO, that they'd rather give a free tow now than have look for the bodies later.

I don't know the area these rescues took place in, nor the conditions of weather, sea or crew, but I can well imagine conditions any or all where, without an engine, it would be unsafe to continue. Also worth remembering that the sailors called the coastguard and it was the CG's decision to call the lifeboat out.

Having said that, if those sailors got themselves into trouble, unless conditions were exceptional, it must raise questions about their fitness for a solo transat.

 

[bedouin]

I presume the weather complication must have been the gale warnings for Betty - but from the pictures there doesn't seem to have been much wind at they time they were "rescued".

 

[Mark-1]

I presume the weather complication must have been the gale warnings for Betty - but from the pictures there doesn't seem to have been much wind at they time they were "rescued".

I'm sure there was a good reason and I'm sure we could all guess plenty of plausible scenarios.

It's a shame the press release doesn't answer the obvious question.

 

[Adios]

Arthur Ransome's dictum

Whats that?