Hayling Island Rescue Service

[Mark-1]

I'd never heard of this guy, anyone know where he keeps the boat?

http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/536805/yacht-rescue-service-facing-cash-crisis

 

[Angele]

I have heard of it, but don't know where it is located.

We have our Hamble equivalent http://www.hamblelifeboat.co.uk/

The Hayling Island Rescue Service, run by solo Samaritan Frank Dunster, costs £3,500 a year in fuel alone, yet when yachtsmen are towed to safety by his 29ft RIB they think it's all part of the RNLI and never offer to pay any expenses!

Umm! why would they? We don't get to choose who the Coast Guard tasks with our rescue - whether RNLI or a different organisation. Should we divide up a reasonable RNLI contribution and divvy it around all of the independent LBs that may or may not be asked to save us?

It is great what he is doing, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it realistic to expect someone who is rescued to pay his running costs, especially if they are already members of the RNLI.

 

[fantasia7628]

Frank Dunster is a bit of a legend. He is based at Hayling Island Sailing Club and his RIB is often moored to their pontoon. He often aids struggling racing dinghies and he is supported by donations from members of the Club. His engine blew a couple of years ago and a fund was formed to help him get it repaired. He offers a fantastic service and being a modest person he is sometime taken advantage of.

 

[l'escargot]

It's a few years old but there is a short film about him here:

He's certainly a bit of a legend...

 

[emsworthy]

Is he an asset that is tasked by HMCG to respond to urgency calls? I'm aware he does a great job but if he isn't up to the standards set by the RNLI, due to an arbitrary age limit, where does the liability begin and end if, someone who is essentially a good samaritan, made a bad situation even worse.

 

[Barr Avel]

...I don't think it realistic to expect someone who is rescued to pay his running costs, especially if they are already members of the RNLI.

Is that a joke, or do people really think the RNLI is like the AA now?

 

[Angele]

Is that a joke, or do people really think the RNLI is like the AA now?

Of course we don't. It is a rescue service. But I'm struggling to understand how Mr Dunster's offering is any different to that.

I'm an RNLI Governor. I'm a member of Sea Start too. If I break down and cannot fix it, and I'm not in any danger and within the Solent area, I'd call Sea Start. If I'm in danger, I'll call the Coast Guard and they'll decide what to do.

So far, I've not needed to call on either. I've been self sufficient when problems arise. I hope I never need either, but I cannot be sure I won't and I have the number for Sea Start programmed into my phone.

 

[KevB]

Of course we don't. It is a rescue service. But I'm struggling to understand how Mr Dunster's offering is any different to that.

I'm an RNLI Governor. I'm a member of Sea Start too. If I break down and cannot fix it, and I'm not in any danger and within the Solent area, I'd call Sea Start. If I'm in danger, I'll call the Coast Guard and they'll decide what to do.

So far, I've not needed to call on either. I've been self sufficient when problems arise. I hope I never need either, but I cannot be sure I won't and I have the number for Sea Start programmed into my phone.

i'm guessing those that aren't a member of sea start or in danger call him.

 

[Barr Avel]

Of course we don't. It is a rescue service. But I'm struggling to understand how Mr Dunster's offering is any different to that.

I'm an RNLI Governor. I'm a member of Sea Start too. If I break down and cannot fix it, and I'm not in any danger and within the Solent area, I'd call Sea Start. If I'm in danger, I'll call the Coast Guard and they'll decide what to do.

So far, I've not needed to call on either. I've been self sufficient when problems arise. I hope I never need either, but I cannot be sure I won't and I have the number for Sea Start programmed into my phone.

OK maybe I misunderstood you. There have been various comments about the RNLI compared to the French SNSM and the different attitude to towing boats in.
My view has always been that just because the RNLI do not charge, I shouldn't assume that the boat responding to the costguards instruction and taking me in tow will not levy a charge. The RNLI do not have a monopoly of rescue at sea in the UK and if I want to be towed in I should accept there may be a charge.

 

[Angele]

OK maybe I misunderstood you. There have been various comments about the RNLI compared to the French SNSM and the different attitude to towing boats in.
My view has always been that just because the RNLI do not charge, I shouldn't assume that the boat responding to the costguards instruction and taking me in tow will not levy a charge. The RNLI do not have a monopoly of rescue at sea in the UK and if I want to be towed in I should accept their may be a charge.

... and I agree with you.

I can't control who the Coast Guard tasks with my rescue and, whoever shows up, I'll be glad of their help if I've had to put out a MayDay, and I'll worry later about their remuneration if necessary. In all other circumstances I'll wait for the Sea Start rib, since that is why I have been paying them for the last 10 years.

 

[KellysEye]

>Hayling Island Rescue Service

There is an RNLI boat on Hayling island I wonder what they think about his service.

 

[Angele]

>Hayling Island Rescue Service

There is an RNLI boat on Hayling island I wonder what they think about his service.

Two, to be exact. An Atlantic 85 and a D-Class (and the same again just inside Langstone). Perhaps they are a lot quieter than they would be without him.

 

[gregcope]

Is he an asset that is tasked by HMCG to respond to urgency calls? I'm aware he does a great job but if he isn't up to the standards set by the RNLI, due to an arbitrary age limit, where does the liability begin and end if, someone who is essentially a good samaritan, made a bad situation even worse.

Is the RNLI age limit for joining?

I very much doubt Frank makes any situation worse. He has good kit, and a weath of experience. If I where in trouble I would be more than happy to see him.

If your post is directed at Hayling Island Rescue Service then I would suggest an edit.

 

[Angele]

Is the RNLI age limit for joining?

Nope, but they won't let you operate one of their inflatables once you reach a certain age (40 I think - so I'm past it already ). Their concern is the damage to your spine of constant pounding from bouncing from wave to wave.

 

[emsworthy]

Is the RNLI age limit for joining?

I very much doubt Frank makes any situation worse. He has good kit, and a weath of experience. If I where in trouble I would be more than happy to see him.

If your post is directed at Hayling Island Rescue Service then I would suggest an edit.

I believe that the RNLI have an upper age limit of 55 for fast inshore craft and 60 for AWB. As I understand it Frank was a coxswain for the RNLI until he reached this arbitrary age and was forced to retire (which probably didn't benefit him or the RNLI in practice). My point was more that if the CG are directly tasking an asset to respond to an urgency call what checks do they carry out to ensure that the asset is up to the job? Not necessarily directed at HIRS or any other service in particular.

I too would be pleased to see him. But what if it wasn't Frank but my Uncle Albert well into his 80s in a well used, yet once reliable boat that is suffering from a lack of investment and maintenance due to financial pressures and helmed by a guy on his own who doesn't know when his advancing years has diminished his once considerable skill and judgement? And more to the point, if HMCG are tasking him when did they last check his capability?

 

[Angele]

I believe that the RNLI have an upper age limit of 55 for fast inshore craft [snip]

Ooh, so I'm not past it then.

 

[prv]

if the CG are directly tasking an asset to respond to an urgency call what checks do they carry out to ensure that the asset is up to the job?

They do have a certain standard, though I don't know exactly what it involves. Organisations that meet it are referred to as "Declared", and put on the menu of available options for the watch officers responding to a situation. Declared status can also be taken away again if the availability and competence of the service is not up to scratch - I vaguely remember this happening, or at least being threatened, to Blythe independent lifeboat in "Geordies at Sea".

Pete

 

[JumbleDuck]

Umm! why would they? We don't get to choose who the Coast Guard tasks with our rescue - whether RNLI or a different organisation. Should we divide up a reasonable RNLI contribution and divvy it around all of the independent LBs that may or may not be asked to save us?

The RNLI very kindly waives towing charges, but that doesn't mean that independent operators have to as well. Even if he does it out of the goodness of his heart, it would seem like a thoughtful act to ask if he could use some fuel money,

It is great what he is doing, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it realistic to expect someone who is rescued to pay his running costs, especially if they are already members of the RNLI.

"Membership" of the RNLI is just a way of donating money and getting some magazines and an ego-boosting title in return. It's nothing like AA, RAC or SeaStart membership.

 

[Angele]

The RNLI very kindly waives towing charges, but that doesn't mean that independent operators have to as well. Even if he does it out of the goodness of his heart, it would seem like a thoughtful act to ask if he could use some fuel money,

If the RNLI didn't waive its towing charges I suspect they would have far fewer members. In those circumstances you would almost certainly be better off buying insurance to cover the costs of needing their services, and we wouldn't have the network of lifeboat stations without Government involvement. Much closer to the French system.

Just to be clear, based on what I said earlier, if someone other than Sea Start has me under tow then it will have been a rescue, not simply a tow. It'll be because I have got myself into a bit of a pickle and that I had called for help. If I hadn't been in any danger I would either have got myself out of the mess or I would have called up Sea Start.

If someone else does have me in tow, I'll be very happy to say thanks (and "buy" out their salvage rights) with a bottle or two or some beer money. But, personally, I would prefer that when a real rescue is needed the Coast Guard task the best trained crew, with the most capable boat for the job.

To me, that is the RNLI.

"Membership" of the RNLI is just a way of donating money and getting some magazines and an ego-boosting title in return. It's nothing like AA, RAC or SeaStart membership.

You needn't explain that to me - I am well aware of what "membership" provides (see post #7). Although to me, it is more than that. I feel that my "membership" has brought me the ability to accept their assistance when it does all go to pieces and to look them in the eye without the slightest guilt for not having supported them.

As it happens, I'm also a member of the AA.

 

[prv]

If the RNLI didn't waive its towing charges I suspect they would have far fewer members.

This seems an odd thing to say. Do you mean they would receive fewer donations?

Pete