My amazing Sunday- RNLI and Whisky Bravo photos.

dralex

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I have just had the most amazing day. I've got a new job in Brixham and am in the process of joining the lifeboat crew, as well as moving my boat to Brixham Marina.

Torbay have had a relief boat on station since the summer while the existing boat had a refit. I had a place on the delivery passage today and left Brixham at 1130 hours. I fully assumed I was going to be the monkey, chief coffee maker and door mat. NOT TO BE. I helmed a Severn Class Boat for about an hour and a half, including Portland Race, then continued into Weymouth where, understandably, the Cox took over to park the £2M worth of boat.

Now I come from a sailing background and am used to passage planning at 6-7knots and being bullied by tides. It's a different world doing 22 knots, in the warm and dry, while sitting on comfortable bouncy shock absorbed seats splashing coffee over your face and groin. Lyme By flew by like hyperspace on space films.

We changed some kit over in Weymouth, then continued on to Poole when we had a call from Whisky Bravo asking if they could practice some high lining and stretcher transfers with us!!!! THe expression PIG IN SH** came to mind several times.

Before I did this, my wife and I were discussing how lucky we all are to live in a country where there is such a superb rescue service to look help us when we get into trouble during our leisure pursuits. This is not meant to rekindle the never ending argument about the RNLI and that is not what thispost is about.

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I'm going to try and get some photos in now.

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Nice one Alex

Always wanted to stay in a port long enough to join the RNLI crew. Not much call here on Petersfield Lake.
 
I wish I was close enough to the sea to volunteer to RNLI or Coastguard or the other voluntary services that are on the coastlines, of which there are more than a few.

Nice one Dralex
 
nice one Alex .good luck with the new job and RNLI career.Will they expect you to do the St.Johns Ambulance first aid course? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Most of you would have missed this little gem on channel zero, just as the helo was approaching the lifeboat.

"Whiskey Bravo this is lifeboat seventeen twenty... (pause).. um...er...seven"

"Lifeboat seventeen twenty um er seven, go ahead over"


No comments please about them being a bit slower in Devon.
 
Enjoy your time on the crew.......I spent 15 years on the Troon boat eventually as 2nd Coxwain......a great experiance but gets into the blood stream so much so all other things ( including the family) will take 2nd place.

As for the Severn class lifeboat all very nice but really far too big to do the job...........give me an Arun class any day, the best boat that ever entered service with the RNLI.

Paul.
 
Thanks Paul. I have nothing to compare the Severn to. It did however put a grin on my face. They were also a great bunch of people to spend the day with- no posturing, testosterone or macho behaviour, which I hate- just friendly and very welcoming.
 
Sounds like a great day, good pics, I thought I was being helpful by just renewing RNLI membership & buying some stuff from the catalogue over the weekend, looks like there is more to it than that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Anyone who has heard my fruity uppercrust tones will know that I never hesitate and mumble, merely pause.



(It is better to stay silent and have people thing you are an idiot than to open your mouth and prove them correct. The late D Thatcher).
 
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My ultimate ambition is to join Coastwatch somewhere around Devon/Cornwall...Cape Cornwall looks good

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As a matter of interest, I stood the 0800 watch on the first Coastwatch station (Bass point) on Christmas Day 1994.
 
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