Lifeboat speed in harbour...no respect to fellow mariners!

I agree with you and the remarks about the police tearing around, there are too many people out there 'big timing it' using all these terms like 'shouts' whatever happened to the word life boat 'service' this implies a far more modest type of operation and an impression of quite determination.
I am certain departing at a more sensible speed would have made no difference at all, it probably made him feel bigger.
 
Starboard,

I have sympathy for your view, having just entered the outer harbour as the lifeboat was preparing to slip. Dutifully I hugged the mole and stopped just by the old Seacat linkspan to give him water.
It was a matter of luck I didn't end up sitting on the ramp.
At sea it is quite easy to miss the maroons, especially in bad weather. While a more cautious approach would be desireable another possibility would be for the lifeboat, at the same time as sending the maroons, asking the H'master to put the ferry strobes on.
 
Experience at Poole indicates that SOP will require them to get HM permission to exceed any speed limit, and they will always be required to confirm that they are proceeding to do so with due caution - Sunday's shout for a sinking speedboat made this clear, and I have had the same situation personally when proceeding through the harbour to render assistance to a vessel on fire. HM will permit at times but always require the skipper, RNLI or otherwise, to confirm they are proceeding with caution.

Suppose the real thread is what is proceeding with caution..............
 
I am well aware of the hydrodynamics - so are you saying that they actually do generate a 3m stern wash?

As I say, I have never seen a 45 foot boat do that (and I am familiar with fast commercial vessels bigger and of much greater displacement, much more power to weight and very much faster, and they do not manage to do anything like that) - seems if you are right then there is something lacking in the design.

Perhaps as someone else has inferred, the accuracy of the report is open to question. Perhaps that is why no one was much interested in the complaint - was it exaggerated?

John
 
I have forwarded a link to this thread to the RNLI Scotish regional office and the Troon harbour master, sugesting that they might be interested in it and may wish to shed some light on the story.
 
Re: I had a quiet word with some of the crew..

it was all settled amicably enough. It wasn't a rare complaint. Yachts rafted up by the HM were particularly vocal, once their masts had stopped applauding, or so I was told.

As is always the way with accidents of this type the wash arrived as the pouring was happening. A siren or something would help a bit as we hadn't heard the maroon go up.

This is never a particularly settled mooring area but the effects of a 50ft boat at hull speed passing just 10m away is always going to be violent.
 
Think that may be a case of sticking your nose in other people's buisness!! If you had read the original post correctly you would notice that operations at Poole say they investigated the case and there was no case to answer...fini..!!! However it has been interesting to read the views of many, especially that of GORDONMC a few posts ago whom states that not long ago his yacht was nearly lifted onto the linkspan whilst triying in vane to avoid the lifeboats wash.

For those of you who say my claims were exagerated please take note!!

S.P.A.
 
Went round outside of UK in a RIB some years back to raise funds for RNLI (our pub in Yorkshire bought 3 inshore craft, so reasonably successful). We called at as many lifeboat stations as possible. We had a great evening with the Fishguard lads and went out in their big new boat on their evening exercises.
When in Gravesend there was a shout with a collapsed yachtie stuck in the forepeak (about which I have posted previously). Their paramedic was on leave so i got nominated.
The relevence of this was that we had to proceed up river thru moored boats - not only did they have to get permission from the harbour master to exceed 6kn but even with blue light on they exercised great caution. They knew there would be loads of complaints especially as it was Gin and Tonic time. They were right. Difficult for them to do a good job all the time, but these lads tried to balance getting to casualty promptly with the need to appease theose at anchor.
 
Did you not make it everybody elses business by posting your criticism of the lifeboat's operation?

Or did you just want to air your opinion, perhaps seeking only sympathy, with no one else allowed to seek the other side of the story? I for one, would be interested to hear the views of the "other side", whatever they may be.

John
 
Whether it was a 2 or 3 metre wash is not important, neither is your grasp on Hydrodynamics, this is a valid complaint made by an ex RNLI man. how can you know that he is exaggerating the situation, it was clearly dangerous and has been backed up by someone else.
Perhaps the coxwain in charge will read these threads and think about it next time he puts to sea on a 'SERVICE'
 
Where did I say that I knew or even claimed that he was exaggerating? I raised it as a possibility only, based on my own experience with wake making (which happens to be professional, as I manage the design and build of fast, powerful vessels operating commercially in harbours).

Perhaps we are all supposed to just accept the claims made by others without any questioning of them?

John
 
I think you are missing the point.

The poster stated that the wash was 3m (10 feet!) and the boat was doing 25 knots inside the harbour.

What we have establised is that
1 These original "facts" are pure guess work
2 The location of the lifeboat station and layout of the harbour mean that these figures are further put into question
3 If the other yacht/poster [ QUOTE ]
hugged the mole and stopped just by the old Seacat linkspan to give him water. It was a matter of luck I didn't end up sitting on the ramp.

[/ QUOTE ] Then their proximity to these obstructions will inevitably lead to problems when any large displacement craft goes by at speed, no matter what craft!
4 The lifeboat cox may not have had all the details of the emergency to hand when departing the harbour
5 A standard signal is indeed sounded prior to the lifeboat launching and my memories of Troon recall a loud and audible alert for the entire harbour area.
6 The distance involved is as short as practible
7 Lives may have been at stake
8 The station manager and Chief of operations at Poole have already investigated this incident and the harbourmaster has stated the boat was only doing 12 knots !

I think we need to take a balanced and sensible approach and bear in mind the nature of work these people do.
 
Quick question - do all Lifeboats have Sirens or Horns?

Surely it is not unreasonable to expect moored yachtsmen not to prevent a lifeboat proceeding at speed - 3m wash or not - what could be required is an audible signal (continuous, a maroon is just another firework really!) that warns you of the approaching lifeboat - upon hearing it you can take appropriate action - sit down, remove children from the galley area etc etc. Not disimilar to pulling over when you hear the siren of a fireengine/ambulance behind you.....

In the same way, I hope all Lifeboat coxs take due care when proceeding quickly through a crowded area, and accept that the next life they could be saving might be mine so bother the G&Ts!!

For the RNLI administration team, they should take into account the extra dangers the boats can cause when re-designing/building stations.
 
If the distance involved is as short as possible then why not put to sea at a safe speed? whatever the speed or wash, it was perceived to be sufficiently hazardous to cause a complaint from someone who sounds pretty experienced, and to be backed up by someone else who has had a similar experience, those are the facts.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If the distance involved is as short as possible then why not put to sea at a safe speed? whatever the speed or wash, it was perceived to be sufficiently hazardous to cause a complaint from someone who sounds pretty experienced, and to be backed up by someone else who has had a similar experience, those are the facts.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree entirely.

The harbourmaster I assume is pretty experienced. After all he sees the lifeboat going out on numerous occasions. I can only assume that he believed 12 knots to be a safe speed inside his harbour for the lifeboat.

BTW how has perception suddenly become fact?
 
Just an update....have spoken with crew member today that states the Coastguard had stood down the lifeboat before it launched!!...so why proceed to sea?? I can only guess to fulfill the Coxswains ego!! and yes full power was applied.

I also understand recently a complaint was recieved from the master of the P and O ferry as to the Lifeboats movement!!

At this I will close the subject......it woukld appear as stated earlier both the harbour authorities and the Chief of RNLI operations are happy with the situation and seem to consider the complaint unfounded......!!!


S.P.A
 
Well the report of the crew member is something I would be willing to accept. After all, he was onboard.

Then it's a case of complaining more frequently and hoping they get the message regading your (and others) complaints.

Have you spoken to the cox about his/her actions? What's the explanation from the person in charge of the boat?
 
Sorry but I applaud the boys on LB\'s ....

I accept the discomfort and risks that may evolve from them saving lives and risking THEIR lives voluntarily.

OK - so there are bound to be cases of over-exuberance or proceeding at high speed etc. etc., but the vast majority of time it's for good reason etc.

I put complaint etc. of these fabulous guys into the Do-Gooder basket that afflicts Police, Fire, Ambulance, Social Service, etc. etc. oh and Schools ......

A job needs doing, to hinder, blinker, restrict the job getting done ... sorry no deal for me.

I know now I will cross swords with some on this .... but LB -you can throw me about in my boat if it means another is saved ........ I don't like it ... but it may be the difference 'tween life and death for another ......

But of course .... as in April I watched the Yarmouth LB go out through the trots ... he was careful but at reasonable speed and no harm came of it ... yes boats did rock a bit ......... but blimey it's a big boat to take out through that lot and at slow speed he's pushing a lot of water in displacement mode !!

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