Penlee Lifeboat.

[Graham_Wright]

I am driven to wonder if the crew of the Union Star had stayed on board would they have survived (and, if informed of those intentions, would the lifeboat crew not have ben called out).

The ship although grounded was substantially intact. Below deck, they may have stood a chance.

 

[Mark-1]

The ship although grounded was substantially intact. Below deck, they may have stood a chance.

I wondered that. In all the photos it's upside down, I assume that happened on the night itself. If so they'd need to be deep in the ship. You'd need a very clear head to come to the conclusion that when the storm was over there might be a survivable space deep in the ship. And that assumes the waves don't drag it back out into the sea.

With hindsight I'd agree there must have been a dry space somewhere in the ship big enough for 8 people, guessing where it would be would have been a tall order.

 

[penberth3]

I am driven to wonder if the crew of the Union Star had stayed on board would they have survived (and, if informed of those intentions, would the lifeboat crew not have ben called out).

The ship although grounded was substantially intact. Below deck, they may have stood a chance.

An interesting thought, but that would surely have gone against every instinct.

 

[Beelzebub]

Hang on--- i was not commenting on the penlee lifeboat incident. I was commenting on the use of the word respect for the ecume de mer in mid winter at night in waves above the light house etc etc in an earlier post
you have to read back to the quoted text
Please do not think that ii have any criticism of the lifeboat crew

We had consulted the Met Office in Jersey before undertaking the trip. They were of the view that though the wind was increasing, it was not likely to be a problem for us so long as we didn't hang around too long.

As it turned out, the trip was boisterous but completey hassle-free.

My biggest heart-in-mouth moment was the following year, when on the wheel, sailing at 20 knots plus 600 miles from land when the rudder dropped off. (Not in an Ecume de Mer, I hasten to add!)

 

[elton]

For anyone that missed it the whole programme is on Youtube.
As well as detailing the magnificent endeavours of the crew, it's a very well made documentary, balancing fact and emotion.

Here