Lifeboats

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 20 Aug 2006, 12:24

Since theres been first the ship sim and then the yacht Leif posted the other day and a few RN/ex-RN members on here, there must be quite an interest in waterbourne craft I figured.

My dad has long been a supporter of the Newhaven lifeboat, on which I got a trip out for my birthday when I was a good deal younger. I had an idea a few years ago that a game/sim involving a lifeboat with rescue missions might be quite interesting. What does anyone else think? The RNLI's extensive range of fundraising merchandise already includes an r/c model lifeboat. To me having a purpose and a reasonably challenging level of difficulty in the game would beat just plodding round in a 'normal' boat either for a round trip or from one port to another.

On a related but separate note, did anyone else see the documentary on the Penlee Lifeboat accident in 1981 a couple of weeks ago? Some truely brave and dedicated people. For anyone that missed this, information can be found in the following places:

http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/so ... ll/history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penlee_lifeboat_disaster

http://www.rnli.org.uk/upload/whatwedo/ ... ething.jpg
The Watson class lifeboat, "Solomon Browne" that was based at Penlee/Mousehole in 1981.

Callum · Post by **Callum** » 20 Aug 2006, 12:27

I love the lifeboats.. I've seen the new Tamar class which is the Tyne's replacement and it's so much bigger!

I said to someone ages ago that if there was ever an MS Ship Simulator i'd model every single lifeboat class.. the imitation sim doesn't do it for me though :huf:

Reheat · Post by **Reheat** » 20 Aug 2006, 12:30

Toby,

Do you have connections with Newhaven? My boat is moored there and the lifeboat crew, as are all RNLI crews, are amazing. It is a great comfort for anyone leaving port to know that such a solid, dedicated team are ready to help if the unthinkable happens.

I think a rescue sim would be very interesting indeed, and might help promote just how skilled the RNLI crews are. Along a similar vein as the SAR helicopter series I assume?

Alex

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 20 Aug 2006, 12:57

Reheat wrote:Toby,

Do you have connections with Newhaven? My boat is moored there and the lifeboat crew, as are all RNLI crews, are amazing. It is a great comfort for anyone leaving port to know that such a solid, dedicated team are ready to help if the unthinkable happens.

I think a rescue sim would be very interesting indeed, and might help promote just how skilled the RNLI crews are. Along a similar vein as the SAR helicopter series I assume?

Alex

I live in the Worthing area, so its not that far away. Quite why we got involved with that particular lifeboat I dont know, my dad seems to know Mike Beach, the former coxswain on the previous Arun class boat pretty well and does their accounts for free as a donation. Obviously its a worthy cause and one that probably gets overlooked a bit these days because although theres a demise in fishing and shipping down here, there is a rise in recreational water use and more yachtsmen etc getting into trouble so its still a vital service. As people may have read in the story of the Penlee incident I posted above, sometimes the weather precludes rescue attempts being made from helicopters.

Paul K · Post by **Paul K** » 20 Aug 2006, 13:13

I saw that documentary, Toby.

The tragedy was made all the more tangible because some of the crew had featured on a television item about the boat, and you got to see them as they were in life.

I must say the US Navy pilot who was on an exchange posting with the RN, and who flew the helicopter that day, came across as one very decent bloke. He seemed genuinely affected by the memories of what happened and his comments about how sad it was when you lose one of your own were very poignant.

Ex-Merchant Navy engineer here, by the way. Never had to call on the RNLI's services myself, thankfully, though there were the odd moments when things looked a bit dodgy.

Here's to all those who place themselves in danger to rescue others, world wide.

Callum · Post by **Callum** » 20 Aug 2006, 13:50

Paul K wrote:I saw that documentary, Toby.

The tragedy was made all the more tangible because some of the crew had featured on a television item about the boat, and you got to see them as they were in life.

I must say the US Navy pilot who was on an exchange posting with the RN, and who flew the helicopter that day, came across as one very decent bloke. He seemed genuinely affected by the memories of what happened and his comments about how sad it was when you lose one of your own were very poignant.

Ex-Merchant Navy engineer here, by the way. Never had to call on the RNLI's services myself, thankfully, though there were the odd moments when things looked a bit dodgy.

Here's to all those who place themselves in danger to rescue others, world wide.

Yep. I've been caught in some hairy rescues before (especially with spring tides).. and that's on a marine lake. (I used to help out teaching sailing, and I am also a qualified RYA rescuecraft coxwain, so i've done some stuff on my own before...) and it's horrid. It's hard to imagine what the RNLI have to put up to in basically the same craft I was in (comparing to their D-Class). I nearly had some seven year old suffocate once (mainsheet wrapped around his neck as he capsized in one of those crappy "funboats". They are unstable and they shouldn't have been let out on such a windy day. (It was a Birthday Party so they didn't have much experience at all).

Shucks man, it really makes you think. I wouldn't hesitate to join the RNLI if I lived within 15 mins of a station. Shame I don't really.

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 20 Aug 2006, 14:25

Those little D-class and Atlantic 21 lifeboats certainly look very small to take out in bad conditions (which is probably most of the time the RNLI are called out) and I would think it requires more courage than being on the better equipped larger self-righting boats, at least from where I am standing.

Callum · Post by **Callum** » 20 Aug 2006, 14:51

TobyV wrote:Those little D-class and Atlantic 21 lifeboats certainly look very small to take out in bad conditions (which is probably most of the time the RNLI are called out) and I would think it requires more courage than being on the better equipped larger self-righting boats, at least from where I am standing.

Ah, but what we say to people when they get scared of coming on the RIBs is "When big ships sink, people get into little boats". That shuts them up :dance:

Jetset · Post by **Jetset** » 20 Aug 2006, 18:48

Toby I love the idea. Being almost exactly in the middle of the UK, I couldn't get any further from the sea, so I don't get to look at nautical craft much. It would be great if there was a british version of Search and Rescue. A combination of RNLI life boats and RAF or Royal Navy Sea King rescue helicopters. Doesn't the coast guard have a rescue helicopter also, but not a sea king?

Might add a few pounds in the RNLI fund. Even without any helicopters I would buy it.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 20 Aug 2006, 18:56

Hi Jetty

It was certainly impressive at the time as thing were still quite restrained then.

Certainly livened up to old Tens a bit and a bit different to when they were in Laker.

Garry