ericw
New member
As you are all aware, the RNLI is completely self-funding and the majority of crew are volunteers.
I live on the Blackwater where we have an inshore lifeboat with an operational area primarily within the river estuary.
Given that my house is only 1 1/2 mins. run from the Lifeboat station and given that I have a good 9000+ offshore sea miles under my belt along with various sail and power pieces of paper, fit and healthy and the fact that the station was on the look out for crew/helms I thought I'd volunteer my services.
The station director was most pleased to have an almost perfect candidate to help solve some of his staffing problems owing to very few crew being close by during the working week, as well as the fact that 2 of the most senior coxswains are due to be retired this coming summer in line with the ridiculous situation of dispensing with such crew once they reach the grand old age of 45 !
I duly attended the medical and had an eyesight test, confirming that my sight is perfect using prescription goggles/helmet visor. Imagine my surprise/disgust of all involved at the station when I recently received a letter from RNLI HQ informing me that owing to having non-perfect sight without the aid of such 'seeing' devices I could not be accepted as crew !
I and some involved at the station were just wondering what other forum members think of the decision ?
I could helm a significant sized yacht under my Commercially Endorsed Licence, I could even fly a 747 with glasses or a Rescue chopper for that matter, but helm an inshore lifeboat as a volunteer when it's proving ever more difficult to recruit ideal trainee crew ... oh no, sorry !
If I were sighted without glasses/goggles/prescription visor and had never set foot on a boat of any sort and had spent my whole life in an office, like most administrators, then that'd be fine !
Who would you rather have come to your aid in an inshore lifeboat - somebody with some good experience of the sea wearing a prescription visor or not have anything turn up because the station has lost some experienced crew ?
RNLI administrators have lost the plot !
On the 45 yr old retirement rule, why can't crew members with 40 yrs+ experience between them, but over the grand old age not just have an annual medical like airline pilots or would that involve too much admin ?
In this day and age of me, me, me and the lack of the professional boatmen to man inshore lifeboats the RNLI should be glad of somebody with my background (and that is not said in an arrogant tone at all), particularly given the resources that go into training crew from zero experience to proficient seamen.
The Administrators should go and rethink their rules before the RNLI loses any more hard to come by volunteers. I, for one, shall be donating my old £100 Offshore sub. to the Guide Dogs for the Blind ... I'll obviously have more use of this equally worthwhile charity !
Regards,
Eric the Somewhat Incredulous.
<hr width=100% size=1>www.HarryHindsight.com
I live on the Blackwater where we have an inshore lifeboat with an operational area primarily within the river estuary.
Given that my house is only 1 1/2 mins. run from the Lifeboat station and given that I have a good 9000+ offshore sea miles under my belt along with various sail and power pieces of paper, fit and healthy and the fact that the station was on the look out for crew/helms I thought I'd volunteer my services.
The station director was most pleased to have an almost perfect candidate to help solve some of his staffing problems owing to very few crew being close by during the working week, as well as the fact that 2 of the most senior coxswains are due to be retired this coming summer in line with the ridiculous situation of dispensing with such crew once they reach the grand old age of 45 !
I duly attended the medical and had an eyesight test, confirming that my sight is perfect using prescription goggles/helmet visor. Imagine my surprise/disgust of all involved at the station when I recently received a letter from RNLI HQ informing me that owing to having non-perfect sight without the aid of such 'seeing' devices I could not be accepted as crew !
I and some involved at the station were just wondering what other forum members think of the decision ?
I could helm a significant sized yacht under my Commercially Endorsed Licence, I could even fly a 747 with glasses or a Rescue chopper for that matter, but helm an inshore lifeboat as a volunteer when it's proving ever more difficult to recruit ideal trainee crew ... oh no, sorry !
If I were sighted without glasses/goggles/prescription visor and had never set foot on a boat of any sort and had spent my whole life in an office, like most administrators, then that'd be fine !
Who would you rather have come to your aid in an inshore lifeboat - somebody with some good experience of the sea wearing a prescription visor or not have anything turn up because the station has lost some experienced crew ?
RNLI administrators have lost the plot !
On the 45 yr old retirement rule, why can't crew members with 40 yrs+ experience between them, but over the grand old age not just have an annual medical like airline pilots or would that involve too much admin ?
In this day and age of me, me, me and the lack of the professional boatmen to man inshore lifeboats the RNLI should be glad of somebody with my background (and that is not said in an arrogant tone at all), particularly given the resources that go into training crew from zero experience to proficient seamen.
The Administrators should go and rethink their rules before the RNLI loses any more hard to come by volunteers. I, for one, shall be donating my old £100 Offshore sub. to the Guide Dogs for the Blind ... I'll obviously have more use of this equally worthwhile charity !
Regards,
Eric the Somewhat Incredulous.
<hr width=100% size=1>www.HarryHindsight.com
.
