BigJoe
Well-Known Member
Haven't been rescued, however, we did get 5 miles from Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson in 1987 during their ill-fated Atlantic crossing
Further to the lifeboat crew thread - who’s been rescued?
- Thread starter Elessar
- Start date
duncan99210
Well-Known Member
Twice over the years...
First was off Alderney in a rising gale in the late 90s. We got knocked flat by a weird wave pattern: the two of us in the cockpit went over the side. The helm ended up being pulled along with his legs in the water, held by his lifeline whilst I went over the side, got caught by the backstay as the boat came upright and wound up in a heap behind the wheel. Down below, the battery had come adrift, pinning one chap against the galley. We lost electricity because of that... Took time to get the helmsman back on board: we had to cut his lifeline to get him up. Took three people to lift him. Then we found the steering was knackered: I’d hit it when I returned to the cockpit and cracked the steering pedestal. We called for help once we’d reconnected the battery and the Alderney ALB came to tow us in. They put a crewman on board who was an enormous boost to morale. The helm and I were treated for hypothermia whilst the guy below got a pretty collection of bruises to go with his cracked ribs.
The second time was in Falmouth Bay about 10 years ago: been doing some MOB drills, everyone taking turns at the helm. I went to retrieve the “mob” and as I stepped up to exit the cockpit, the boat gybed. I met the boom and remember little... I’m told my wife called a pan pan, asking for an ambulance to meet us in Falmouth. Falmouth Coastguard acknowledged the message then called back saying that there was a helicopter on the area and they would winch me off. I remember being put into the harness, told to keep my arms by my sides and suddenly finding my nose inches from the winchmans groin. Apart from a blinding head ache for a few days and a scar resembling that of Harry Potter (now much faded), no lasting ill effects but I’m now paranoid about booms and unplanned gybes.
First was off Alderney in a rising gale in the late 90s. We got knocked flat by a weird wave pattern: the two of us in the cockpit went over the side. The helm ended up being pulled along with his legs in the water, held by his lifeline whilst I went over the side, got caught by the backstay as the boat came upright and wound up in a heap behind the wheel. Down below, the battery had come adrift, pinning one chap against the galley. We lost electricity because of that... Took time to get the helmsman back on board: we had to cut his lifeline to get him up. Took three people to lift him. Then we found the steering was knackered: I’d hit it when I returned to the cockpit and cracked the steering pedestal. We called for help once we’d reconnected the battery and the Alderney ALB came to tow us in. They put a crewman on board who was an enormous boost to morale. The helm and I were treated for hypothermia whilst the guy below got a pretty collection of bruises to go with his cracked ribs.
The second time was in Falmouth Bay about 10 years ago: been doing some MOB drills, everyone taking turns at the helm. I went to retrieve the “mob” and as I stepped up to exit the cockpit, the boat gybed. I met the boom and remember little... I’m told my wife called a pan pan, asking for an ambulance to meet us in Falmouth. Falmouth Coastguard acknowledged the message then called back saying that there was a helicopter on the area and they would winch me off. I remember being put into the harness, told to keep my arms by my sides and suddenly finding my nose inches from the winchmans groin. Apart from a blinding head ache for a few days and a scar resembling that of Harry Potter (now much faded), no lasting ill effects but I’m now paranoid about booms and unplanned gybes.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Out of interest how long ago were these?
Nowadays there can’t be many - if indeed any - gales # in U.K. waters that are not forecast at least 24 hours in advance, so unless inbound from blue water can be avoided.
# By gales assuming a sustained wind of gale force, per Met Office definitions. Clearly can get shorter gusts, squalls and even (as recently reported) brief tornado style effects, potentially dangerous but not generally referred to as “gales”.
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
For the real lifeboat enthusiasts..
After rescue by a modern boat, my damaged yacht got towed for repairs by a slightly older lifeboat, the century old Colin Archer sailing lifeboat, Risør 2. She is preserved in original sailing condition, although fitted with a diesel these days of course. ( from Mandal to Risør if anyone knows Norway).
After rescue by a modern boat, my damaged yacht got towed for repairs by a slightly older lifeboat, the century old Colin Archer sailing lifeboat, Risør 2. She is preserved in original sailing condition, although fitted with a diesel these days of course. ( from Mandal to Risør if anyone knows Norway).
Iliade
Well-Known Member
Once by the lifeboat, some thirty years ago, after executing the infamous Bembridge Bounce manoeuvre. This would have been a total loss without their help.
Later, perhaps fifteen years ago, in the entrance to our home harbour by the fisheries protection cutter, when our buoyancy-bagged Enterprise wouldn't float high enough for the two moderately large crew and SWMBO to get her sailing again.
Mildly irritatingly the nearby fishing vessel wouldn't give us a short tow to get the hull lifting and thus less waterlogged, but was happy to stand by while the cutter came in and rendered assistance. Poor communications I guess.
Later, perhaps fifteen years ago, in the entrance to our home harbour by the fisheries protection cutter, when our buoyancy-bagged Enterprise wouldn't float high enough for the two moderately large crew and SWMBO to get her sailing again.
Mildly irritatingly the nearby fishing vessel wouldn't give us a short tow to get the hull lifting and thus less waterlogged, but was happy to stand by while the cutter came in and rendered assistance. Poor communications I guess.
westhinder
Well-Known Member
No real rescues, but I have three times had to ask for assistance.
the first two were after pretty rough trips, hard pressed, when the engine did not start as water had siphoned back into the cylinders and we had to ask for a tow for the last bit to the pontoon. One was in Blankenberge, where the volunteer lifeboat towed us in, the other was in Dover, where the harbour patrol kindly nudged us to the pontoon.
The third time we had caught a rope in the prop. We sailed into St Peter Port and a harbour master gave us the final push to the pontoon
the first two were after pretty rough trips, hard pressed, when the engine did not start as water had siphoned back into the cylinders and we had to ask for a tow for the last bit to the pontoon. One was in Blankenberge, where the volunteer lifeboat towed us in, the other was in Dover, where the harbour patrol kindly nudged us to the pontoon.
The third time we had caught a rope in the prop. We sailed into St Peter Port and a harbour master gave us the final push to the pontoon
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
1993 and 2002ish. Both Gales were forecast. 1993 I was out intentionally. 2002 I was anchored specifically to escape the forecast gale, hence I was in no personal danger, but still grateful.
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
I once saw the Waverley assist a windsurfer south of the IOW. I thought that was pretty novel!
pagoda
Well-Known Member
Only called for assistance once in 10 years. Pinned beam on to some Swedish rock, Couldn't get away easily. The lifeboat went downwind of us and pushed us away with their prop wash. We motored back to civilization and licked our wounds . It could have been much worse, but they responded quickly. I don't aspire to lifeboat crewing but I have a great deal of respect for any of these guys- in whatever country they operate.
mainsail1
Well-Known Member
The Mudiford Inshore Lifeboat came out to help us escape from a pot line about 6 years ago. Could not even see the line to get hold of it. They put one of their crew onboard. He was dressed like Buzz Lightyear and when he came over the guardrails he tripped and somersaulted across the deck, almost rolling overboard on the other side of the foredeck. Quite a spectacular entrance I thought.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Looking at this lot I am wondering if a thread called « Who hasn’t called out the lifeboat? » might have been shorter.
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
Never rescued but gratefully assisted twice. Off Weston Super Mud when new outboard failed on a day of no wind and anchor jambed in an underwater reef when anchored for "repairs" about 50m from a starting tidal race so I did not dare then cut the anchor free. Pan Pan and the RNLI practice lot send their boat to tow us back to harbour - they couldnt shift anchor either!
Then crab potted round prop and rudder off Padstow, again a tideway and I did not dare go over the side to look and was very uncertain about cutting it free anyway - it could have meant no power or steering and tide setting towards Trevose Head. Pan Pan on a Sunday morning and who should turn up but the RNLI.
No doubt suitable wind would have sprung up eventually at Weston and tide abaited, and tide would have eased from 2kts off Padstow so might have got free, but otherwise it would be a matter of eventually abandoning the boats and taking to dinghy to hopefully seek help, which might have not been that forthcoming.
Then crab potted round prop and rudder off Padstow, again a tideway and I did not dare go over the side to look and was very uncertain about cutting it free anyway - it could have meant no power or steering and tide setting towards Trevose Head. Pan Pan on a Sunday morning and who should turn up but the RNLI.
No doubt suitable wind would have sprung up eventually at Weston and tide abaited, and tide would have eased from 2kts off Padstow so might have got free, but otherwise it would be a matter of eventually abandoning the boats and taking to dinghy to hopefully seek help, which might have not been that forthcoming.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
It's easy to criticise the RNLI - they're a big target and, like any big organisation, they get things badly wrong at times but, reading all this, I think we should be very grateful that they and the independents don't do like the French lifeboats: Rescues of people are free, but rescues of boats are charged at, IIRC, commercial rates.
I wonder how many lives are lost because people wait too long before calling them out due to this. An easy tow in in decent weather following a rope round prop and rudder can quickly turn into a boat on the rocks and a search for a missing sailor if the callout is delayed.
I wonder how many lives are lost because people wait too long before calling them out due to this. An easy tow in in decent weather following a rope round prop and rudder can quickly turn into a boat on the rocks and a search for a missing sailor if the callout is delayed.
Elessar
Well-Known Member
You raise an interesting point anyway.
I said at the beginning I’ve been rescued once and towed twice.
With the rescue I knew my actions were foolish at the time and I was embarrassed to call for help. It was only when my daughter was in real danger that I called anyone. Even then I only called the nearby marina and they called for help. I should have called a mayday and I would now strongly advise the younger me to do do. At the time it didn’t cross my mind.
So pride may stop some calling, as well as cost.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
Pride is what could stop me - and the reluctance to admit that I've f*cked up so badly that I can't get myself out of the situation.
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
A Pan-pan is the face saving call you need, the CG will give you the upgrade
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Absolutely. Although I royally messed up in the Sound of Islay that day - I should have sought safety as soon as it became clear that we were going to get strong winds over s strong tide - I think in retrospect that the most seamanlike thing I did was call for help.
I have done so twice since. Once was when I ran aground and dried out at the entrance to the River Dee in Galloway and started taking on water when the tide started coming in and once (reported here) was when I caught the line between pot buoy on the surface and one 6' under water and became moored by the rudder in unpleasant conditions off the NW point of Mull. Both times a lifeboat crew was ready to help but both times I was able to cancel: I found the leak and I managed to motor backwards off the pot line. Embarrassing to call, and in a way embarrassing to cancel, but both times I had young people with me and their safety counts more than my dignity any day.
A Pan-pan is the face saving call you need, the CG will give you the upgrade
In the Sound of Islay incident I was talking to the CG on VHF when I started throwing up, at which point I made the call Pan-Pan as I was the only experienced (sic) sailor on board.
The only really unpleasant part of the whole incident was the Auxiliary Coastguard at Craighouse who a couple of nights later got steaming drunk and abusive in the bar, accusing me of being a wimp. Not that I really cared. He wasn't there.
Elessar
Well-Known Member
this has become an interesting thread drift.
It certainly was seamanlike to call for help, unlike my situation.
I know I have criticised (in my mind) distress calls in the solent that seem to be trivial - and of course even then I’m prejudiced as I’m not on the distressed boat - the lesson here I think is call if in doubt and cancel if you can.
And if I get a ribbing on here or elsewhere for being a wimp after making a call then c’est la vie!
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
I was crossing the Humber from Spurn to Grimsby fish docks, at night with lots of ships, and my engine stopped in the middle..spring flood.. no wind..but the engine started again and just about worked at low speed.. I informed Humber CG and VTS, and they sent the Spurn lifeboat just in case..their decision but i had expected it, the river was swarming with fast ships including some officially CBD. Not a place to be randomly drifting while bleeding filters..I could have anchored which was next if I became NUC.
I made it into GY and the lifeboat followed me in, we had a chat and they were very clear they would rather come out on a shout and NOT be needed, than anyone take any gambles.
I made it into GY and the lifeboat followed me in, we had a chat and they were very clear they would rather come out on a shout and NOT be needed, than anyone take any gambles.
Last edited:
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
To JD, it should not be ' embarrassing to call' , you *always* act properly if you inform the CG what is happening.