Doing something dangerous on the water to raise money for the RNLI...

Halcyon Yachts

Halcyon Yachts

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One of our yacht delivery skippers has decided to swim across the Solent this November to try and raise money for the RNLI...

It really isn't the best time of year to do it, and I personally think that he is crazy! Hopefully we won't have to call upon the RNLI to come and save him!

To find out a bit more and to make a donation please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/halcyonyachtssolentswim

The RNLI are an amazing organisation and we are very lucky to have them in the UK.

Many thanks,

Pete
 
Halcyon Yachts said:
The RNLI are an amazing organisation and we are very lucky to have them in the UK.
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No one disputes that but they are one of the most over-monied charities in the country and there are many, many others who desperately need the dosh that the RNLI don't even know how to spend.
 
I have recently had my reservations not about those who volunteer to crew the lifeboats and keep them maintained but with some of the decisions made by the management, such as the suspension of volunteers because some snowflak was upset by some stupid mugs in a cupboard.
I do still however contribute and will be attending an RNLI quiz tomorrow evening.
I never did anything dangerous to support them, and I’m not sure the swim described is a good idea, but my own stunt was back in the early 70’s when I participated in a challenge to eat 20 hard boiled eggs in 20 minutes. I managed it, just, and raised £100. I suggested a further challenge of 8 pints of custard but noone would take me on.
 
Just had a really interesting tour of RNLI at Poole and would recommend it to all. Clearly like any organisation of its size some aspects might be open to challenge but the actual manufacturing process of the vessels is worth seeing if you have the chance . Have been a member for many years and you might consider they could increase uptake of some safety features for members e.g. Cheap PLB or such like for members etc but they do carry out much good on balance both in territory and now more internationally .
 
Why do you not just do a charter delivery in the Solent & unbolt the keel. ----Think of the benefits-----You would get some publicity , The RNLI would get some from the "shout" to shut up Sybarite & the anti RNLI brigade. Westerly owners could tell us how boats should be made. The oldies could all moan about the standard of foreign AWBs. Those with knackered old boats could start on about " fat arsed boats with 3 wheels". Oyster knockers could blame it all on venture capitalists. We could have a debate about keel design & why all boats should have a skeg then Brent Swain can extol the virtues of running aground on a reef in a steel boat.
We could even have a thousand theories as why it fell off in the first place.
The forum could have a field day

--PS - & Aberdeen coastguard could handle the mayday once Falmouth had checked on the chart where the Solent actually was.
 
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Daydream believer said:
Why do you not just do a charter delivery in the Solent & unbolt the keel. ----Think of the benefits-----You would get some publicity , The RNLI would get some from the "shout" to shut up Sybarite & the anti RNLI brigade. Westerly owners could tell us how boats should be made. The oldies could all moan about the standard of foreign AWBs. Those with knackered old boats could start on about " fat arsed boats with 3 wheels". Oyster knockers could blame it all on venture capitalists. We could have a debate about keel design & why all boats should have a skeg then Brent Swain can extol the virtues of running aground on a reef in a steel boat.
We could even have a thousand theories as why it fell off in the first place.
The forum could have a field day

--PS - & Aberdeen coastguard could handle the mayday once Falmouth had checked on the chart where the Solent actually was.
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Where would anchors and in mast reefing feature in the fundraising then ?
 
Daydream believer said:
Why do you not just do a charter delivery in the Solent & unbolt the keel. ----Think of the benefits-----You would get some publicity , The RNLI would get some from the "shout" to shut up Sybarite & the anti RNLI brigade. Westerly owners could tell us how boats should be made. The oldies could all moan about the standard of foreign AWBs. Those with knackered old boats could start on about " fat arsed boats with 3 wheels". Oyster knockers could blame it all on venture capitalists. We could have a debate about keel design & why all boats should have a skeg then Brent Swain can extol the virtues of running aground on a reef in a steel boat.
We could even have a thousand theories as why it fell off in the first place.
The forum could have a field day

--PS - & Aberdeen coastguard could handle the mayday once Falmouth had checked on the chart where the Solent actually was.
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Not rising to the bait. Tempted though....
 
How about a "flare teach-in"?

We could all bring our expired flares; the RNLI people could - suitably dressed, armoured and gauntleted, with safety-harnesses and lifelines correctly anchored to ring-bolts in the pier - ignite the flares in suggested dangerous situations (in a boat/ in the dark/ with one hand tied behind their back to simulate injury/ etc etc).
By-standers and those present could be charged an entry fee - a fraction of disposal costs - and the RNLI would, at a stroke, raise money and dispose of expired flares while teaching those of us pre-disposed to lethal supposedly out-dated "safety practices" to be encouraged to buy all sorts of electronic substitutes (batteries not included).

Of course, a warning leaflet would subsequently issued saying:-
"Don't try this at sea"...……………………………..

An irreverent thread-drift.
Sorry.
 
Robert Wilson said:
An irreverent thread-drift.
Sorry.
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The initial post was about raising funds, so is it an irrelevant thread drift?
Not if the RNLI could use its resources to invent an automatic, safe flare igniting machine. They could charge us all 50 p per flare to place it in the machine, see it ignited then walk away knowing it had been disposed of. If all done in a safe environment it would be better than incineration. Obviously the issue of non ignition would have to be sorted, but with a few £ million already in the bin they should be able to research something to amuse the masses.
I would be happy to visit the local RNLI station once a year to one of their display days to see them go off. Would amuse the non sailing fraternity as well, plus raise some funds I am sure. It would get me to go, so I would probably end up donating for something else whilst I was there ,so they could dip in my wallet twice.
Considering the issue with flares I am surprised the RNLI has not identified the disposal issue as one needing attention & one to which they could divert some funds.
 
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Sybarite said:
It already exists :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flare_gun
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Had one of those, a Webley, for 42 years but can no longer get the replacement shells in the UK. Took it in to the police station at Maldon to hand in & policewoman behind counter agreed to take it, but not the old ammunition.
I complained that that seemed stupid & that she should take the ammo as that was as dangerous as the gun, but to no avail.
I took it back & said, "that's Ok I will nip outside & fire off in the high street first then"
She nearly had a fit & ran round the counter & grabbed the lot, gun & shells, as I walked towards the door waving the gun around. She was NOT a happy bunny.
Problem sorted though.
As I left I said, " Told you that you could take them, didn't I?"
I did not wait for the reply!!!
 
I used to carry a Very pistol on one of my boats about 40 years ago, but you do have to have a fire arms certificate to carry one, and given the general publics phobia about fire arms in the UK and the very restrictive and rather ineffective laws on possesing hand guns (unless you are some criminal scumbag) it’s probably almost impossible to get permission to carry one today.
Still reacon they were a lot safer than a flares though.
 
Praxinoscope said:
I used to carry a Very pistol on one of my boats about 40 years ago, but you do have to have a fire arms certificate to carry one, and given the general publics phobia about fire arms in the UK and the very restrictive and rather ineffective laws on possesing hand guns (unless you are some criminal scumbag) it’s probably almost impossible to get permission to carry one today.
Still reacon they were a lot safer than a flares though.
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I found it quite easy ( apart from the form filling in) & talking to the gentleman who used to interview me there are hundreds of people in Essex with firearms certs ( as opposed to shotgun). At the time he was employed by the police almost full time reviewing licenses.
I only used it a few times and then it was white flares to warn ships in pre vhf days. In later days it was there rather like the other flares , as a safeguard.
I had an European license to go with it for visits across channel. Surprisingly their customs had no real concerns about its presence on the boat.
 
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