Portishead Lifeboat
- Thread starter Who
- Start date
Csail
N/A
So what was the mayday for?
A
Alcyone
Guest
I've never come across this before, many questions.
PRIVATE lifeboat?
Three crew? I've only ever seen four on an ILB.
SINKING RIB? Most of them have 5 chambers, and I've actually been on one full of divers afloat with three tubes punctured.
And what does he mean, 'would they have found us?' Presumably they will have been some of teh best equipped and best documented mariners in the channel. And generally you have a better chance of being seen when it gets dark, as torches/flares etc are easily spotted.
I'd like to know the full story here.
PRIVATE lifeboat?
Three crew? I've only ever seen four on an ILB.
SINKING RIB? Most of them have 5 chambers, and I've actually been on one full of divers afloat with three tubes punctured.
And what does he mean, 'would they have found us?' Presumably they will have been some of teh best equipped and best documented mariners in the channel. And generally you have a better chance of being seen when it gets dark, as torches/flares etc are easily spotted.
I'd like to know the full story here.
A
Alcyone
Guest
Csail
N/A
Think a pan pan may have been better. At least they are ok though.
Csail
N/A
Aha....it sounds like the hull was cracked. Obviously a mayday was a better call.
A
Alcyone
Guest
I'm guessing they hit a log or something? The only time I've heard of a RIB cracking by hitting waves was Swansea SAC, some years back, and I thuink they'd had it modified, cutting the hull to fit a locker or something.
graham
Well-Known Member
They drive the Rescue ribs pretty hard .
It would have been rough at the time with wind over tide. They may have hit something as you say. I sailed down on Wednesday night from Portishead and quite a bit of crap in the water.I had a long discarded rope towing astern off the rudder at one point luckilly it freed itself it was a bit rough to fart around recovering it so I hope noone else finds it.
There was a rib used for taking passengers out seal watching etc down in Cornwall that broke up a few years ago it was in the MAIB report magazine.Also another one where the seat /control module thing broke free and flew overboard complete with the people sat on it in the Thames not long ago.
I have a lot of respect for the Portishead lifeboat crew,I think they do a vital job on that section of the Channel. Like all the independant LBs they do all their own fundraising etc and dont get paid.
It would have been rough at the time with wind over tide. They may have hit something as you say. I sailed down on Wednesday night from Portishead and quite a bit of crap in the water.I had a long discarded rope towing astern off the rudder at one point luckilly it freed itself it was a bit rough to fart around recovering it so I hope noone else finds it.
There was a rib used for taking passengers out seal watching etc down in Cornwall that broke up a few years ago it was in the MAIB report magazine.Also another one where the seat /control module thing broke free and flew overboard complete with the people sat on it in the Thames not long ago.
I have a lot of respect for the Portishead lifeboat crew,I think they do a vital job on that section of the Channel. Like all the independant LBs they do all their own fundraising etc and dont get paid.
Who
Well-Known Member
I have seen the news report on BBC this morning.
The hull had split away from the tubes. i.e Hull hanging off.
It looks like they hit something very very hard, splitting the 2 apart.
From what I can see the split was around 2+ meters, with the hull flapping about underneath.
The boat would not have sunk, but they were drifting down the channel, sat in cold water at night. Sounds like fun /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
A Mayday was bang on right, well past a pan pan after seeing the damage.
The hull had split away from the tubes. i.e Hull hanging off.
It looks like they hit something very very hard, splitting the 2 apart.
From what I can see the split was around 2+ meters, with the hull flapping about underneath.
The boat would not have sunk, but they were drifting down the channel, sat in cold water at night. Sounds like fun /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
A Mayday was bang on right, well past a pan pan after seeing the damage.
A
Alcyone
Guest
I heard a yacht giving the coastguard a report of a huge floating net yesterday on the radio as well, and there were a couple of logs about 6" thick in around the moorings where we are. Hit one of those at 25 knots and ouch.
I've never seen an independant lifeboat, but I read the site above. I have nothing but the highest respect for people who go to sea specifically to help others. You only have to need help once or twice yourself to know how grateful you feel. Good luck to them. They had a big donation to buy that boat, so I hope they are covered to get it all fixed.
I've never seen an independant lifeboat, but I read the site above. I have nothing but the highest respect for people who go to sea specifically to help others. You only have to need help once or twice yourself to know how grateful you feel. Good luck to them. They had a big donation to buy that boat, so I hope they are covered to get it all fixed.
Wunja
Well-Known Member
Aren't the RNLI and SARA both independent as well? Neither receive government funding, so to me, makes them independent. The difference is one has a single boat, the others have 10 or 400.
Who
Well-Known Member
I watched the news again just now.
The tubes have come away from the hull on both sides of the boat. (Ribcraft)
Yes I do mean both sides all the way along. You can lift the tubes up and the hull stays where it is.
The tubes have come away from the hull on both sides of the boat. (Ribcraft)
Yes I do mean both sides all the way along. You can lift the tubes up and the hull stays where it is.
graham
Well-Known Member
Spoke to one of the crew today.SARA (Severn Area Rescue) have loaned them a boat to keep the service going until the Portishead boat can be repaired or replaced.
siwaller
New Member
Don't forget CAVRA 
We are more like SARA rather than the RNLI but definately independant and desperate for funds to increase our water rescue capabilities. (Especially Flood/Swift Water)
We are more like SARA rather than the RNLI but definately independant and desperate for funds to increase our water rescue capabilities. (Especially Flood/Swift Water)
