Kev

...was the lucky one who had a ride in the helicopter on Wednesday. It was a short ride but, judging by the grin on his face, a great deal of fun!

On the rather cramped afterdeck of the Mersey the winchman, Kev and Tom (who was tending the high-line) prepared for the lift.

It struck me that this new helicopter hovers much lover than the old Whiskey Bravo so the actual trip us was very short.

Once onboard it was a quick trip round the bay then back into formation on us ready for a lower back down.

Once again, the spray flew and made photographic conditions somewhat testing for Sam who was wielding my camera.

Mighty Power Rangers

Dave, Tom and Neil have recently returned from the Divisional conference (held annually for key station personnel). At it they were told about the RNLI's environmental policy and how they want to make a 5% electricity saving across the whole of the Institution. Being as our own electricity bill runs in to the thousands each year, this should represent a worthwhile and significant saving. Typically, rather than seeing this as a call to turn off the odd light, Dave saw it as a chance to audit our power usage and develop some sophisticated timers and switches so that we can continued to do everything we need to but make at least a 5% saving and, knowing Dave, twice that.

So Dave's first move was this simple timer which when the button is pressed turns on the heater in the crew room for a set period of time.

Then, in a flash of inspiration he has designed this very clever box of tricks which, if pressed after a shout or exercise, will turn on the drying cupboard heaters for 6 hours...just long enough to dry our sodden drysuits and oilskins.

Alone this should be enough to save the required 5% but Dave is naturally not satisfied with this and now has the hot water boiler and station PC in his sights!

Well done Dave!

Senior helm

Steve has been our Senior ILB Helmsman for the last 7 years. This is not an official position in the eyes of the Institution, but it is one which we have always had as we feel that it gives much needed leadership to the younger and less experienced part of our crew. And Steve has done this job tremendously well.


He is known for being a stickler for details and analysing how everything is done to ensure that we are always doing the right thing. He has also been a great teacher of new and inexperienced crewmembers (he inducted me into the crew) as well as having led from the front with demonstrably high level of skill as a boathandler on shouts.


However, Steve has now reached the grand old age of 45 and so has had to retire from sea-going duties in the ILB. Consequently he is no longer able to continue as the senior helm of the ILB.


So Steve now moves to being ALB crew only where his skills as a navigator, radio operator, first aider and yachtjumper will no doubt be in high demand. Good luck for the future and thanks for everything you've done in the ILB mate.


So some time ago the current ILB helms got together and decided amongst themselves who was going to succeed him. None of us are sure how this decision was reached, however, Tom's name rose to the top of the pile and so he has now taken over from Steve as Senior Helm. No doubt he will put his own unique stamp on the role! Good luck mate.


Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on that sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

(Dylan Thomas)

A day of three parts

Yesterday both boats exercised at 9.30. Being the first exercise of the New Year this was very much a dusting off of the cobwebs and a chance to get back into the groove ready for another year in the life of Swanage Lifeboat. Little did we know that the year was about to kick off with a bang. Just as the ALB was being backed onto the slipway and the first lines re-attached the call came for the boat to head out to sea to assist a charter fishing boat with a sick passenger. It turned out that the bat in question was our very own Tom Greasty's boat San Gina.



Not surprisingly he dealt with the situation in a very cool, calm and professional fashion.



Two crew members (Gav and Matt) were put on board the vessel with a first aid kit and oxygen and Tom headed back into the pier to meet the ambulance. In pretty short order the job was done and the lifeboat returned to station to re-house.

And then later in the day, just as most of us were tucking into our Sunday roasts our pagers went off again. This time it was to search for a woman who had been seen entering the sea near ocean Bay but had not been seen coming out again (it was dark by this time). Naturally, because of the cold and darkness, Portland called out all assets; both lifeboats, Rescue 106, CG shore based teams, the police and the police helicopter. Luckily (and I say luckily because if the woman had been still in the water she would have been lucky to survive even the length of time it took us to get out there and search) the police found the lady at home fit and well.

I wonder if this is an indication of what the new year will bring?

(Photos from the boat camera - photographer not known)

Festive exercise

Last nights exercise was a pretty cold affair. Nevertheless a large number of crew turned out and the time was spent well in both the ILB and the ALB.



Dave has been re-organising the deck-lockers where we stow all of the various ropes and lines on the boat. He briefed the crew on the new stowages and the reasoning behind each move.



The ILB went off an did it's own stuff for the most part. This included us putting 'Dead Fred' out to sea for them to find him. This they did easily and quickly.



We even had our own Christmas decorations on deck.



Down in the wheelhouse Gav, Tom and Steve spent time creating routes and setting up search patterns.



Meanwhile I was up on the USP with Oli doing some boat handling and driving. Very good he was too.

Apologies to Steve for the photos...

Then afterwards we had a crew-meeting. Nothing exciting to report except that the crew took the decision to buy a Nintendo Wii (whatever one of those is) for the crewroom. I've no idea why a chap would require anything other than a back copy of the 'Lifeboat Enthusiasts' newsletter or 'Land Rover Owners' magazine in order to while away the time. There you go, perhaps I'm getting old.

Climbing in

It was exercise night last night and for a change I went on the ILB. One part of the fitness test which I still had to complete was demonstrating the ability to climb into the ILB unassisted from the water. Technically we are allowed to use any one of a number of methods to do this, including using the engine as a step...however, rather like sailors on square riggers spurning the 'lubber's hole', it is considered poor form to re-enter the ILB by any other way than heaving oneself in over the side. Thankfully I managed this thanks to some helpful encouragement from Tom (thanks mate).

It was a crew meeting afterwards and unusually we had little to discuss other than how and where to hold our Christmas party. It looks like it might be the Ship again, perhaps black-tie, perhaps fancy dress. Whatever, I'm sure we'll be well looked after.

Incidentally, this photo was really the best I could do last night (I tried hard to get a decent photo of Tom but that wasn't going to happen). Not what I set out to take but I like it!

Busy Wednesday

One way or another yesterday was busy.

Firstly at about 2 in the afternoon Portland Coastguard paged the DLA and asked for the ALB to be launched to a 45 foot yacht with 2 people aboard. It was becalmed about 2 miles South of Anvil Point with a rope round its prop.

The Mersey launched 12 mins later and was soon alongside the yacht. A towline was passed across and after checking that there was no other damage the yacht was towed back to Swanage and was secured to the Lifeboat mooring in Swanage Bay.
Later in the early evening local diver, Robin Plowman, went out to the yacht and cleared the obstruction allowing the vessel to continue her passage today.

Just as the evenings exercise was about to commence at 7, Martin sprung a dramatic multi casualty Medical Exercise on the crew. Paul Savage had provided the casualty scenarios and various friends acted as the casulties. Observing was a Coastguard colleague who is also an ambulance paramedic.

Here Kev deals with a young man who has fallen, was unresponsive and had a suspected spinal injury and significant bruising.....certainly 'Big Sick'.

Gav was dealing with a lady who had some nasty puncture wounds, looked a real mess but was in reality only 'Little Sick'. Gav treated what he could and then stayed with her providing comfort and reassurance. Alltogether, a very well conducted exercise.

Immediately afterwards both boats went to sea on exercise and completed various evolutions in the bay. The ALB took an inexperienced crew out; Jo had a first go at using the Radar under Dave's supervision, Gav navigated, Matt was Mechanic and Tom took on the role of second Cox on deck. A good learning experience for all.

On completion a quick de-brief then down to the Ship for the analysis!

Oops, I forgot!

In the excitement of Saturday night's shout I completely forgot that I haven't yet mentioned Friday afternoons ILB shout. Our mechanic Dave doesn't often get to go on ILB shouts. However, every now and then there will be a situation which requires a more rapid than usual response. In these situations whoever is at hand jumps to it and launches the boat in double quick time. On Friday it fell to Dave and Tom to do this. The story went something like this:

In a brisk force 4 Westerly wind just after midday a local fisherman came into the Lifeboat station saying that his colleague was alongside an upturned sailing dinghy 250m NW of the Lifeboat station, unfortunately he was in a small rowing boat and unable to help. The single handed sailor was cold and was unable to right his boat as the centre board had snapped. As luck would have it one of the ILB helmsmen, Tom, walked through the door and it was quickly decided to launch the Inshore Lifeboat to recover the casualty. The Lifeboat was launched and was soon alongside the upturned dinghy. The casualty was taken aboard and then taken to the Sailing Club so he could warm up. The crew then returned to his dinghy, righted it, lowered the sails and towed it back to the Sailing Club. With the situation resolved the fisherman was thanked for his help and the Lifeboat returned to station.

These sort of shouts are always very satisfying. There can be no doubt, by acting as quickly as they did, Dave and Tom prevented a simple situation from becoming far more complex and unpleasant. Well done lads!

Turns out, size does matter!

Tom, our resident fisherman is a great chap. He looks after me and my family very well by supplying us with a regular supply of fish and crustaceans. This afternoon he rang me and was very happy with himself.you can probably work out why! Photos never truly do justice to creatures of the deep, however, take it from me.....this was one large fella. 7lbs to be precise. So big in fact that he wouldn't fit in my usual large lobster boiling pan. Indeed, he didn't fit in my enormous large ham boiling pan. Sadly, I had to remove his claws before cooking him. No easy feat I can tell you.
Still, I'm sure he will taste fantastic......I'll let you know!

Bank Holiday

It has been a busy bank holiday for lifeboat stations in the South West with launches at Exmouth, Torbay and St Ives to name but a few. The weather in Swanage has been rather wild, talking to the a few of the crew I know that they have been thinking about the changing weather and the restlessness of the sea. Some of the crew have taken the opportunity to go away for the bank holiday, those of us that are left are trying to keep as available as possible to ensure that that there are enough of us to man the boats, should we get the call.

Paul, Skid, Steve, Kevin, Tom, Gav, Dan and John Deas are all starting a two week radar and navigation course tonight which will take place in Swanage in one of the RNLI's mobile training units. The course is fairly intense and consists of seven three hour training sessions, but is an essential part of their crew training. We wish them luck!

We band of brothers.

Yesterday evening was the first 'dry' exercise that I have taken. The idea is that though most of the training we do necessarily happens at sea, some can be better achieved ashore in the boathouse. Becky, Nick and mark are all newish crew members, along with Tom we went over responsibilities for keeping watch at sea and how to properly use the watchkeeping equipment (Binos, night-sight, search lights, compass and radar). Obviously this was all broad brush stuff but sometimes even the obvious needs to be pointed out. We then did some dry runs through on how to rig up tows and how to deploy and recover the anchor. After a bit of practise throwing the heaving lines (Becky, she who makes everything look effortless, was scarily accurate) it was time to repair to the pub for a de-brief.

And that's the funny thing. There we were, a dozen or so young fit friends in our usual pub, the England football match was on, so what did we do? Naturally we left and went to another pub. One without a telly so we could chat about the important things in life (like boats, holidays, mountainbiking and having fun). We all agreed, life should be spent living not watching football on tv. And gradually we all sloped of home leaving just a hard core, Jon, Steve, myself and the awesome Becky. Happy to chat and plan the summer ahead.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother;
(William Shakespeare)

Crabs

Lifeboat shouts rarely happen at convenient times. That's the nature of the job. Monday's shout was during my tea time. Now I wouldn't normally mind but on this occasion I was just tucking into the innards of a fine 4 1/2 lb brown crab freshly plucked from the deep by Geoff Marsh andTom. I think you'll agree, he was a beauty!

Talking of which, it would appear that Tom has an admirer. Apparently he is 'cute', not sure that I would agree but then I am neither female nor American (I suspect they may have a slightly more exotic taste in man)?! My advice to the delightful if ever so slightly deranged Megan? Reserve judgement 'till you've smelt him!