18 October 2009 ------ I was well prepared for this mornings exercise with camera in tow but we were so busy doing various drills which included MOB (Man Over Board) and creating search patterns as well as close manoeuvres in the harbour that I hardly got a chance to take any photos (well I should be working) but just before we beached for a prom recovery I got time to get a few quick shots off..........
27 September 2009 ------ With me being away on holiday it's been over a month since the last time I went out on the boat so you would think that I'd be prepared with my camera....Well I wasn't which is a shame 'cause instead of the normal exercise around Maughold head we went in the opposite direction and spent the entire hour and a half doing various manoeuvres just off the point. Typical really but a great exercise....
16th August 2009 ------ I stayed on dry land today as part of the shore crew as the coxswain wanted to put various members of the crew, including SD2, through their paces on the breeches buoy. SD2 was real excited as she was to be the casualty and so for this she donned a dry suit rather than her normal kit.......
17 May 2008 ------ Fast asleep at 02:15 when pagers go off and jump out of bed and within minutes heading for the boathouse. Probably about third to get there and coxswain, S tells us all to get our gear on whilst he finds out what the shouts about. Managed to get my gear on in a very crowded kit room and made my way onto the bow of the boat making the necessary adjustments to my jacket but was then asked by S to help out on shore with the launch as there were seven on board already. Never mind still work to be done so I helped with the launch and watched as the boat made her way in pitch black darkness, north towards the point in search of the casualty, a small dinghy, June Ends who's sole occupant had contacted the coastguard that he was in trouble. Whilst the boat steamed towards her target we made our way back up the beach and into the boathouse for a well deserved cuppa where one of the crew mentioned that he was sure that we had rescued this boat before. This was confirmed later by a radio message from the boat when she had got alongside the June Ends and fixed a tow and started to bring her back. Towing took just under an hour and just before the lifeboat beached for recovery the tow was released and the dinghy, with one of our crew on board was rowed the twenty yards or so to the shore where a number of us waded into the sea and pulled her ashore and then onto a dinghy trailer to aid pulling her up the beach whilst the others recovered the lifeboat. Once everything was cleaned and put away we learned from the chap that he had left Workington and was making his way to Ireland when the wind dropped and that he had been rowing for three hours before calling the coastguard. And as we left we saw him getting stuff out of the dinghy and starting to put his tent up on the beach for the night. So with everything locked we all went home and was back in bed as the clock turned five.... You know it makes you wonder that people are allowed to do this sort of thing as he had no means of navigation, no flares, no lights on his boat only a small torchlight and he was crossing major shipping lanes..

04 May 2008 ------ More of a familiarization exercise today and watching on as we launched right at the same time as the Round The Island yacht race was taking place. Unusual to have so many yachts out and about in Ramsey bay but we stayed out on the edge, having a great view of all the action but not getting involved as we made our way up to the point where we carried out close manoeuvres at the Whitestone buoy cardinal marker.............................................................................

20 April 2008 ------ Whilst on the third leg of today's marathon exercise Liverpool coastguard requested that we help in a search for two boys missing around The Ayres area. So straight into action and search mode with Liverpool co-ordinating both the lifeboat and coastguards who were also in on the search and in no time lookouts on the boat had spotted the two youths walking on the beach unaware of the search around them, position noted and they were soon safely reunited with their worried parents..............

20 April 2008 ------ Fairly rough seas and a brisk easterly wind was the order of the day when we launched at 09:30 on the first of todays three exercises with each of the three coxswains taking charge over one of the events with R taking first go. Because of my shift work and the fact that I would be having to go into work later I was chosen for the first launch which was a bit hair raising at times as we were launching into rather large waves on a very fast approaching tide. It was, to put it mildly a big sea. Not big enough to stop the exercise but big enough to shake you about somewhat. Luckily then that most of the exercise was taken in the harbour with G and W honing their close range boat handling skills before they take their exams. Before all that though we headed east out of the harbour for about a mile and dropped off 'Dead Fred' to be picked up later. Back in the harbour young D and myself were the deck hands getting ready with the fenders and giving the helm some idea of how far away from the wall they were............

................Once all the harbour work was finished we then made our way out between the stone piers where the sea started to get a bit more animated in search of Fred. Gordon had, when we slipped Fred over the side made a note of the lat and long position as well as the time. From this he calculated, using various tide tables the whereabouts of Fred who would have moved with the tide a fair distance in the time that we were away, and set up a search pattern......................................

......................With D and myself as lookouts we covered a fair sized box which was fine when the sea and wind were behind us as we headed west towards Ramsey. But when we were facing east going into the wind and waves things were a tad more hectic. So hectic in fact that we both clipped on as at the bottom of the waves, the front of the boat was burying itself in the water. This is what it's all about. Standing freezing cold and soaking wet but loving every minute of it.  With us running out of time to get back in the harbour for the change of crew we used the DF radio to track the transponder that we had attached to Fred and in no time at all we had spotted him but it took us a bit longer to get him on board as once in the water he gets heavier and is rather difficult to manage. Still manage we did and safely secured on the deck we made our way back to port where we tied up alongside the quay wall to let the next lot of crew take over....

SHOUT

04 April 2008 ------ Friday afternoon and I hadn't been out of bed long when the pagers went off alerting us to launch ALB. As always when something like this happens the drive to the boathouse was slowed down as I was stuck behind a learner driver that was stopping for everthing and after what seemed an age I arrived at the boathouse in time to be asked to put my Musto gear on and be part of the crew. Whilst getting dressed learnt that the casualty was a yacht who's engine had failed and was drifting somewhere off Maughold Head so once we had launched we headed in a southerly direction at full speed. Once we had reached Maughold Head a couple of the crew went on the foredeck and in no time at all the casualty had been spotted just off the port bow so we altered course and whilst making way we got everything ready on deck for a tow. Once up beside the casualty we were pleased to find that the skipper had already made a bridle fast ready for the tow so it was only a matter of throwing the tow rope and the chap making it fast to the bridle and we were then underway heading back to Ramsey. Then came the real test......As we had launched on an already falling tide I was tasked to work out how much water there would be at the landing steps between the stone piers by the time we arrived as we knew there wouldn't be enough water beneath the boat to go all the way into the harbour......Almanacs out brain into gear and in a short period of time having first worked out how far we had to go and at what speed we were travelling how long it would take us to get there I calculated that at the steps we would have a depth of water of 1.7 metres as both boats, ours and the casualty were pulling a draft of 1 metre this gave us 0.7 mutres of spare water before we hit bottom......I tell you something I was real pleased to find that when we got to the steps my calculations had been correct and that we just had enough water to bring her in, turn around and then get back out for a beach recovery. It was then only a case of washing her down and she was back in the boathouse ready and waiting for the next by about 15:30..........

20 March 2008 ------ Been a while since I've been out on the boat, because of my film commitments the other week, so I was very pleased to be chosen to be one of the crew members for tonights exercise. Conditions were far from ideal with very strong winds and raging seas. In fact it was the roughest I've ever been out on on an exercise that is as the passage was worse but the whole event was brilliant to say the least. R who was coxswain and overseeing everything for the night had briefed us as to how the exercise would pan out with one of the main things being that W who is training for coxswain would be in charge and so straight from launch he instructed me to head to where the rougher seas were which is just off the point. At first I was positioned on the fly bridge outside but soon, once I had upped the speed to about ten knots I decided to take control in the wheelhouse, in the dry as the waves were crashing over us and I was getting soaked at the stern of the boat. Making headway was pretty tough going in the rough seas and on a number of occasions when we were coming of the top of a partiular large wave I was shot out of my seat by quite a few feet. Anyway as soon as I passed the point young D was asked to take control and alter course which he did and soon we were at the point where we needed to be and D and I were asked to go and rig the anchor................................................
....................................Leaving the warmth of the wheelhouse we made our way to the bow of the boat ensuring that we had clipped on our lines and with us bobbing about all over the place and waves crashing over the deck we rigged the anchor and had it ready for deployment, which we weren't to do tonight and so were asked to put everything away in it's place. This was the first time I've ever done deck work in such conditions and being clipped on which being a safety issue can be a right pain at times especially when you come to the end of the line and need to move a few more inches but are prevented from doing so. Anyway with everything stowed away we were then asked to deploy the drouge which we did and all went well and once that was all cleared away time was up so we headed back to Ramsey where we were just in time to catch the tide for a beach recovery and all was away ready and waiting for around 21:00............

17 February 2008 ------ Thanks to a very poor nights sleep I wasn’t feeling 100% when I started to pull my gear on this morning in the kit room and when S, the second coxswain who was taking this mornings exercise put his head around the door and said….’No need for those Pete I want you and D in  dry suits’ my heart sank as it could only mean one thing which was I was gong in the drink. As things turned out it was probably the best exercise I’ve been on………………..A dry suit, as the name infers keeps you dry when immersed in water unlike our normal Musto gear. It is an all in one rubber suit that comes with it’s own integrated wellies and has very tight elasticated wrists and neck to stop water ingress and is all closed together by a large diagonal zip. Underneath you wear your normal everyday clothing which for me this morning included a tee-shirt a thermal vest and my RNLI issue long sleeved body warmer. So by the time I’d managed to squeeze into the suit, put my head through the very tight neck aperture (which when in position around my neck I felt I was being choked), and had help pulling the zip up I felt, and looked no doubt like the Michelin Man. There was still however a simple task to perform before all was ready and one which is vital which is getting the excess air out of the suit, and the way that you do this is, to pull the very tight neck away opening the seal and at the same time crouch down. This will push most of the air out which as I said is vitally important as when you are in the water you want to be able to move about but if there is too much air in the suit you are too buoyant which is no use at all as your legs keep on floating upwards. Anyway with all or at least most of the air out of my suit all that was left for me to do was put on the lifejacket and I was ready for anything that could be thrown at me……..
……..With the mornings high tide just gone, the waters edge was still quite high so when it’s like this we have to be quite quick in getting the boat ready (aerials up / radar stanchion in place)  before getting into position, hammers in hand ready to knock off the holding quarter chains. This done we were soon having a briefing from S about what today’s exercise was all about. Breeches buoy at Maughold Head so the dinghy would be needed so whilst we were steaming our way there, myself, D and A got this ready……….………At the base of the cliffs just below Maughold lighthouse there is an eyelet cemented into the rock and it was this that we were going to use to anchor the pulley but first we had to get there. This meant launching the dinghy and rowing over to the cliff base, scrambling onto the rock before securing the dinghy and then climbing over seaweed and bird dropping, covered rock until we were in position and ready to secure the pulley..............................................................................................................

............................Part one of our task completed we then watched whilst those on the boat set the anchor and attached veering lines so that they could veer down so as to get as close to us as possible and throw us a line. This part didn’t quite work to plan and after three attempts at passing us the line the fourth one also fell in the water short so Darren dived into the water to retrieve the rope and with this safely in hand I helped him back onto terra firma, clambered back up to the pulley and threaded the veering line through then made my way back down the rocks and into the dinghy, rowed around the rock until I could get hold of the line and pulled myself towards the boat still holding the other end of the line so when I had got back to the boat and handed them the line there was now a complete loop..........

................................Once at the side of the boat I was then pulled back the other way towards the rock and the long struggle to get back on dry land as I was being impaired by the lifebelt around my waist and it took me at least three attempts to get a decent footing and hand hold on the slimy rock and pull my not so lightweight frame onto fairly dryish land, exhausted..........All we had to do then was untie the pulley and throw it in the water for those on the boat to haul back in make our way back to the dinghy and row the short distance to the boat..............Once back on board the exercise continued with other crew getting out the salvage pump, getting it into position and starting it up. Once this had been completed it was time for us to head back to Ramsey where we had a beach recovery and all was in place ready and waiting for that call at around 12:30.............

................The snow at one time was falling pretty hard (the picture doesn't really show it) and we thought that if things didn't hurry up we wouldn't get away but as things turned out we were called pretty quick and had a great flight landing in Glasgow in bright sunshine. Baggage picked up it was then on to the hire car and the fairly short drive to Helensburgh where the boat was awaiting our arrival........
..............The drive was uneventful though half way the sky turned a funny colour and by the time we had arrived at the marina the snow had caught up with us and was falling very heavily.............

...........We wasted no time in getting the keys for the boat, getting aboard and familiarising ourselves with things 'cause even though she is the same class of boat as ours, a Mersey, she is an earlier version and things are slightly different........

......................We had hoped that the requested marine charts, seeing as they weren't delivered to Ramsey would have been on the boat but we were disappointed so we had to make a number of calls and the LOM  (Lifeboat Operations Manager)from the local Helensgurgh lifeboat saved the day and came and gave us a spare set of theirs. All major tasks completed which involved plotting our course on the satellite navigation system, checking oils and water etc it was then off to do a bit of shopping at the local shops for goodies for the trip the following day....................................................................................

............Meanwhile I sat and watched the radar for any activity whilst the others did their checks and at times I went up on deck to take in the fantatstic scenery that we were passing as the Clyde wasn't as busy as I had thought it would be as the weather forecast was predicting very poor weather indeed..........

..........................By the time we were entering the harbour and R who was on the helm, was manouvering the boat alongside the harbour wall ready for us to re-fuel the wind and rain were driving horizontaly into our faces and things weren't at all pleasant in the least. Full of fuel R then took the boat further down into the harbour and berthed her up against the Girvan Lifeboat with the great help from the station mechanic. All safely tied up and closed down for the night it was into the warmth of the boathouse where we were given a warming cup of tea a piece of cake and a great chat about all things RNLI as well as a couple more charts for the rest of our proposed journey......................

30 December 2007 ------ It's been in the planning stages now for about three months but at long last we have been given the green light telling us that the long awaited re-fit of our boat is to get underway at the begining of the new year in Holyhead. This of course means that before she can go there we have to have a relief boat brought in and as it happpens I've been chosen to be part of the crew that brings this relief boat to the island and it was the planning of this that we started today whilst training. The relief boat is at present in Rhu marina on the Clyde so on Thursday we fly out to Glasgow then drive to the marina and make preparations for an early launch on Friday morning for the long passage back which after planning is a total of 122 miles and will take us the best part of ten hours as we will be stopping off in Portpatrick for refueling. This will be a first for me to be in such busy waters and will of course be a great learning curve and one which I'm really looking forward to. Once we are back in Ramsey we will meet up with our boat in the harbour (we've worked it out so we arrive just before full tide) swap things over then recover the relief boat onto the carriage and take her into the boathouse. Our boat meanwhile will stay afloat in the harbour until Saturday morning when she will depart on the early morning tide for the passage to Holyhead with a different crew aboard. Just hope that the weather is fine for both passages and that I will be able to get some decent photos. I will of course bring you all the news when I get back next Satrurday........................

05 December 2007 ------ Every two years at around this time our evening exercise takes on a slightly different vein as we go on what is called the 'Santa Run'. In conjunction with Laxey authorities we dress the boat up with fairy lights and take Santa down to Laxey where loads of children are waiting with lit torches for his coming. This gives us a chance to go to the very edge of our southern limit using radar and plotter to get there as well as honing our skills on berthing in a secondary port. It is also a very good public relations exercise enjoyed by all. the worry for todays trip was whether or not it was going to be on as the weather forecast was for pretty rough, wet weather. As things turned out it stayed dry but the journey was pretty rough especially once we got out of the protection of Maughold Head but it wasn't that bad at all. Once outside Laxey harbour all our lights are momentarily put out whilst we fire off some para flares which illuminate the whole place and gives the waiting people on the quayside a grandstand view. Lights are then put back on and we make a grand entrance into the harbour to the cheering children. After berthing we then went into the yacht club for some light refreshment before making our way back to Ramsey arriving just before nine for another prom recovery...........................

25 November 2007 ------ For this mornings exercise on leaving the safety of the beach instead of heading south towards Maughold head we headed north towards The Point and within a few cables of leaving we were put through our paces by M who was coxswain for the day......The scenario was that the steering had broken down and we needed to get to the Whitestone Buoy so without further ado the emergency steering was rigged and we were making progress in the right direction. Making good headway in fairly calm weather things progressivly got worse in the scenario as the engine suddenly caught fire so all the flaps had to be closed, anchor set and the salvage pump got out from the survivors cabin and rigged up to cool down the deck....This of course took quite a while but was good fun and once the fire was out we carried on our way to the buoy where we again set the anchor and did some veering exercises in ever changing weather conditions which were getting decidedly worse beore finishing off and making our way back to Ramsey for a prom recovery.......

04 November 2007 ------ The Irish Sea was on its best behaviour this morning, without even a ripple when we launched at around 9:30 for todays exercise. As well as being still it was as clear as a bell and we could see the sea bed for quite a distance as we made our way slowly towards Maughold Head. As we were making progress, S who was in charge for today asked that we get the dinghy out which we did and Mark the coxswain (our casualty for today) donned a dry suit grabbed the oars and radio and once the dinghy was in the water jumped in and rowed off towards a group of seals that were resting on the rocks. We left him to this as we made our way to Port Mooar where we anchored and got out the fire fighting equipment. Once these tasks had been completed S asked myself and D (the youngest member of the crew at seventeen) to get out and rig up the emergency steering which we did and after a little dodgy start we soon had the boat going in the correct direction which was back towards Maughold Head so as to rescue Mark the coxswain who had beached the dinghy safely and was floating on his back. G and I rigged up the Jasons Cradle on the side of the boat and young D clipped on his lifeline and went over the rails so as to direct Mark into the cradle and when he was in the correct positon G and myself hauled him up the side of the boat for a near perfect rescue. Once on board he didn't stay log as he had to go back and retrieve the dinghy and as he did there were loads of seals following his every move. Anyway it wasn't long until all were safely back on the boat and we made our way back to Ramsey for a beach recovery and all was ready for the next time by midday......................................

28 October 2007 ------ No launch this Sunday just training in the boathouse which went really well as G talked us through Collision Regs which I will have to learn if I'm to pass my Navsar exam which I will be hopefully taking in the new year.......................

14 October 2007 ------ As I was out on the last exercise it didn't surprise me in the lest that I would be left out of todays exercise as there were other crew down there today who hadn't been out on the boat for a while so of course they get the first option. Anyway it was nice to be just on the shore crew for a change and get my memory jogged on the procedures..............................

05 October 2007 ------ Been a while since I've been out on the boat due to other committments but I took some time off from work this evening to go down the boathouse and luckily I was chosen to go out as it was a fantastic exercise..........After some of the bad weather we've been experiencing lately it was nice to see that all was calm and gentle as we launched just befor 18:30. Speeding off south towards Maughold head two of the crew were tasked to get the X-boat out whilst I was asked to start and set up the radar. I'd only done this once before which was ages ago but somehow I'd remembered most of the procedure and in no time at all I had the whole thing set up and had even picked out and alloted a number to an approaching vessel and so were able to track its every movement. By the time I had completed all of this we were in position to carry out the tasks that M the coxswain had planned. I was to get in the X-boat for much needed rowing practice once the other crew members had set the anchor and then they were to practice throwing the heaving lines. Rowing is not my forte but after a while things started to get easier and I was at least making some headway. Finished with this for the moment and with me safely back on board I was then tasked to deploy the Jasons Cradle. Once in place, W all kitted out in drysuit threw himself overboard and lay floating in the water ready to be rescued. This was repeated three times which is no mean feat but thankfully W is one of the lightest of the crew so things could have been a lot worse. Next it was to get the salvage pump out and start it up which Wayne helped me with and we soon had it pumping gallons of water all over the deck. Whilst we were doing this the other crew members Andy and D were asked to get in the X-boat and row to the beach and back and once we'd stopped the salvage pump I was tasked to get out the fire hose and to get that pumping. I tell you by the time we were steaming back to shore I was shattered after all the running around but really pleased with a job well done.................................

12 August 2007 ------ A slight delay to this mornings events due to the fact that the coastguards whom we were having a joint exercise with were running a tad late. Once the two coasties who were coming with us were on board we launched and were soon heading out in an easterly direction to a pre planned site where we threw over a marker buoy which we were to collect at a later time. The main point of todays exercise was for one of the crew A to have hands on experience with the chart and other pieces of kit as he is soon going on a navigation course and so the windows of the boat were blacked out to prevent him using any other means for navigating. From dropping off the buoy A then had to give the helmsman directions to Port Mooar without the aid of any visuals apart from the radar screen and the course he had plotted on the electronic plotter (sat nav). The buoy that we had dropped over board earlier had a radar reflector so as we were moving away towards our new target area we could still pick up its position on the screen which was welcome practice for me as I still find I'm a bit rusty when it comes to this piece of kit. It disappeared off screen after 1.7 miles but then we picked up an approaching yacht which the radar kindly informed us that we were on a collision course with and so once all this latest information was relayed to A he requested the appropriate changes so as to avoid the ever nearing yacht. There was never any danger of us hitting the yacht but it makes great practice to do things like this in a blindfold situation as we could be doing it for real in thick fog with no visibilty at all and so it's nice when you know you can do it and that what you've learnt works. Danger averted we carried on to Port Moar where we slowed down and R who was taking todays exercise called us all to the stern to inform us all of what he wanted doing which was Alec had to navigate back to where we had dropped the bouy (without the use of radar and the epirb system that was attached to it) and once in the area carry out an expanding box search in the hope of finding the buoy. Mine and the coasties job was to be lookout on the bow. You would think that finding something that resembles a very large ball with a four foot ariel and a large radar reflector on the top would be a piece of cake. It wasn't which goes to show that searching for a body in the sea is a lot more difficult. Anyway after two passes we located the target and brought it back on board and then headed back to port where just outside the harbour we met up with G and D two of our crew who were out on their yacht Manx Jig and as part of the exercise two of the crew, A and RC were sent aboard to rig up a harness whilst I got ready the tow rope in readiness to pass the rope over so that we could tow them in. After towing them for a while, the tow was dropped, A and RC jumped back aboard the Lifeboat, G and D went off to berth Manx Jig in the inner harbour and we went in for what was a prom recovery as by this time it was full tide..........................

22 July 2007 ------ It's been a while since I've been out on an exercise but luck was in this morning and I was called to be part of the boat crew.  Once again the conditions were perfect as we made our way towards Port Mooar where we anchored the boat and deployed the dinghy to do a close in search of the rocks. I was one of the ones chosen to get in the dinghy and by the time we'd made our search and returned to the boat I was sweating buckets. You know I will have to get fitter as well as taking up rowing lessons as I leave a lot to be desired with my skills on the oar. Once the dinghy had been safely stowed on deck we then got the salvage pump out and set that up and soon had it pumping gallons of water everywhere. With this completed and with us running out of time we returned to Ramsey for a beach recovery and all was back ready at around 12:30.......................................

10 June 2007 ------ Better than perfect conditions for this mornings exercise with very high temperatures thanks to the blazing sunshine and next to no wind. Headed in a easterly direction to start with then  ST who was coxswain for the day asked me to get out the emergency steering. Been a while since I did this but once rigged up it's just a matter of patience in trying to steer a straight course. The weather as I said was perfect so after an erratic start myself and another of the crew managed to get it under control and follow a pretty decent path. The hardest part of it is getting all the gear out and back in to where it is stored as it is stored in what's called the tiller flaps, a very small and confined space under the stern helm which you enter by removing a watertight flap then decend a ladder being very careful of the hydraulic steering mechanism. By the time I'd done all this the sweat was just poring out of me as I'd still got my Musto jacket on so it was off with the jacket as well as drinking a bottle of water whilst trying to cool down on deck. It wasn't long then until we arrived at the side of a boat that was anchored out in the bay and the owner asked if we'd like to practice coming alongside and tieing up which we did as the practice is very welcome. Once this was completed it was time to head back for Ramsey for a beach recovery and all was back in the boathouse ready for the next time at around 12:30.................................

27 May 2007 ------ As the saying goes you win some, you loose some and today I lost big time as yet again the pagers went off alerting us to launch ALB whilst I was at work. I say big time but it wasn't that major of a shout nor was the weather particlarily bad. Why it was so big was one of the persons we had to rescue was one of the crew.......Yes you heard me right, one of the crew being rescued and this is going to go down in legend at the station.....A competent sailor having being on the crew a number of years and having had other boats he'd recently purchased a rib and it was this that he and a number of friends had used to go over across to Workington so as to see a car Rally in Edinburgh. Whilst down at the boathouse for training earlier today he rang up to see what the weather was doing in preparation for the return journey and all seemed fine though we did joke that mayne we would get a call later.....many a true word etc.........Apparently five miles off Maughold Head they experienced complete and total failure of everything and were left adrift with only one option and that was to call the coastguard........Once launched it wasn't long until the Lifeboat was on the scene and it's four occupants were taken on board with three of them feeling really sea-sick. The only one feeling OK being the crew member whom I wont name to save embarrassment and then it was towed safely back into harbour where the boat was recovered with help from SD1 and SD2 who went down to give aid as well as giving grief to the unfortunate crew member who they know very well. Think somehow that this will run and run.......................


20 May 2007 ------ Been a while since I was out on the boat so I was pleased to get the nod for the morning part of todays execise. I had thought that all went well, it's only now that I'm writing this the day after that I know that it didn't............An all day exercise so everyone could get a chance of doing things that they need to brush up on. Our task in the morning was to navigate to a certain point and drop Dead Fred overboard so the afternoon crew could then try and find him a few hours later. As this picture shows Dead Fred is a dummy and attached is an EPIRB (the orange thing on his lap) which we switched on before throwing him over. What we didn't do however was to check that the EPIRB was attached to Fred. It wasn't. This was only found out when the afternoon crew succesfully located Dead Fred in record time and when brought on board it was spotted that the beacon was missing. A search then had to be made for the beacon but this wan't a problem as they located it by tracking it's frequency (just what it was designed for) and in no time at all it was safely on board and attached to Fred as it should be. Lesson learned I think.................

04 May 2007      Gutted because I missed this latest shout as I was at work in Douglas at the time the pagers went off. Oh well you can't be on them all and I've been lucky as of late.... It was made better however by the fact that it wasn't an out and out emergency to save lives. We had been called by the coastguard to go and recover a boat that had unfortunately sank with the loss of two lives last week. The bodies had been recovered at the time but the boat hadn't as it couldn't be located at the time. It has just appeared in the Solway and they asked us to go and recover it and tow it back into Ramsey which we did. All in all out about five hours...........................

08 April 2007 ------ The sea was as calm as a millpond and the sun was shining when we launched the Lifeboat at 09:30 for todays exercise. Not a great deal off deckwork today so I spent most of my time on the radar and plotter as we made our way to Laxey before returning to Ramsey for a beach recovery at 11:15. On the way we passed many seals sunning themselves on the rocks at Maughold Head and Mark the coxswain who was on the helm for today brought the boat in close to the wreck Glendun whos boiler is visible and which we were able to get a good view of. This was only the third time I'd been as far as Laxey and as I had my camera with me I managed to take a number of pics. It's just a pity that there was cloud covering Snaefell as it would have been a lot better if it was clear and more distinct..............
04 April 2007 ------ Woken out of my afternoon reverie with the pager alerting me to launch ALB at 15:56. As is the norm I'm stuck behind an idiot driver whom I'm sure wait until the pagers go off to cause as much mayhem as they can. Anyway I was first of the normal crew to get to the boathouse, the coxswain, RB and the mechanic Ali already been there. As soon as I got there RB asked me to kit up and get on board as quickly as possible. Whilst I was doing this other crew members rushed into the changing room and within minutes we were all dressed and ready to trundle down the slipway and onto the beach for a quick launch. By the time we were at the sea edge we had been informed that we were off to the rescue of a yacht 'Hurley Burley' whos engines had stopped and was drifting towards the beach two miles west of the point about 50 yards off. Once underway we then went down into the wheelhouse to plot our course and to get more information from Liverpool coastguard and inform them of our ETA which was worked out to be around 16:30. The conditions were perfect and we made good headway and once past the point we could see the casualty in the distance so when approaching we prepared for a tow just in case it was needed. Once along side with me holding one of the roaming fenders the chap who was on the casualty requested a tow so Gordon boarded the striken vessel to prepare a bridle ready for us to attach our tow rope. This done we attached the tow rope to the bridle and were soon making slow progress towards Peel at a steady 6 knots. in the meantime Peel Lifeboat was launched and after about forty minutes me met with them and handed over the tow to them. Once everything was found to be OK we then headed back to Ramsey with Rob asking me to take the helm which I did until we had rounded the point when Gordon took over until we beached at around 18:45. it was then only a matter of cleaning and refueling and I was back home just after 19:30 ready to go in and do a full shift at work..............


01 April 2007 ------ No launch today so it was training in the boathouse and for a change I was the pupil. As you know, if you've been reading these pages, for a while now I've been in the role of teacher showing the new recruits the ropes to speak. I've still got a great deal to learn and so today it was my turn to be the pupil and Dawn the teacher and very good she is at it as well....Well it is her profession as she teaches as a relief teacher at the local schools.......Chart work was the topic as well as taking bearing readings on the hand held compas and then plotting the results onto the chart to find our position. You know what? It worked. OK we weren't out at sea but the principal is the same and we were spot on when all lines were drawn on the chart. Dawn also taught us about secondary ports which Ramsey is and how tide diamonds on charts work. All in all a great mornings work and yet more knowledge learned............
29 March 2007  ------ After having to miss last weeks exercise when I also missed out on a shout I ensured that I could go into work late just in case I was lucky enough to be asked to go on board. I was, and a good exercise it was as well. First of all we practiced getting a body out of the water with the use of the Jasons Cradle. We hadn't got Dead Fred this week so we used a live Wayne the training co-ordinator and after jumping off the boat three times and being man handled by us to bring him safely aboard we then went on to do other things such as setting the anchor and veering. This I missed out on as I was down in the wheelhouse familiarising myself again with the workings of the radar system. You know I haven't been on this piece of kit for a while but after only a few minutes it all came back to me. Well most of it did anyway and within no time I had spotted three other boats in the vicinity and had marked and tagged them so as to keep an eye on their movements. Still using the radar I had to plot our position using various coastal points as markers and bearings. This proved to be OK and soon our time was up so we headed back to station for a beach recovery though I had to change quickly for my mad rush to work...................

22 March 2007 ------ Been a while in coming and I missed it. Yes during this evenings exercise which I had to miss due to work commitments the boat was called up by Liverpool Coastguards to make a search in the Laxey area as someone had reported seeing red flares. After a thorough search of the area nothing was found so the boat and crew were stood down. And I missed it all......................

14 March 2007 ------ The biggest night of the year so far with the annual darts and pool tournament between us and the yacht club but first the training.....Spent most of the time with the latest recruit, Darren explaing how to set up the gear for a breeches buoy rescue after which we decided to practice throwing the heaving line. This is a longish piece of thin lightweight rope with a monkeys fist on the end, (which adds weight for accurate throwing) and is used to transfer a larger rope to the casualty. I'd done this on many occasions, even doing it on the last shout we were out but had struggled with accuracy but last night with thanks to all the coaching I had from the other crew members I was able to get the distance and accuracy correct and came out on top of the little competition we had. For our target we positiond a wheelie bin with the lid open at the start of the slipway across the road from where we were throwing. The task was to see who could get nearest or in fact actualy in the bin. I managed to hit it twice and did in fact on my last throw, before I retired champion get it in. The trick is to have the ball of the monkeys fist hanging further down than the remaining rope loops and throw it underhand. It's great when it all comes together, pity then that I didn't use the same accuracy in the darts and pool which followed.......I'm afraid to say that we were beaten. No we weren't just beaten we were embarrassed and so had to relinquish our hold on the trophy that we have held for the past two years. Still, we all had a good night and a lot of fun and as the experts say it's not about winning or losing it's about taking part....Yeh tell that to all of us crew who have cried ourselves to sleep after experiencing this defeat................................
13 March 2007 ------ Odd night for an exercise being a Monday but it was carried over to tonight from last Thursday to accommodate the two inspectors who have came over to have a skeet at all our operations. As is the norm when inspectors are on board I am a tad nervous but seeing as I still need to be signed off on two of the tasks ( breeches buoy and helicopter lift ) I was the first of the crew to be chosen for tonights exercise. The breeches buoy is a method of rescue that has been around for a very long time and as the name suggests breeches, or trousers as they are now called were part of this operation. They aren't of course used any more but the principal is very much the same and in the lifeboats case we either use a lifebelt or as in tonights case the inflateable dinghy. Once launched and on our way heading out towards Maughold Head the coxswain Mark asked Ray and myself to get the dinghy ready and once inflated and ready for action to return to the stern of the boat. This we did and when at the stern Mark instructed us as to what we had to do. Dead Fred was of course involved but this time he had already been thrown in the water many hours previously, so with being told where he had been dropped in the weater and at what time, our navigator for the night who was Dawn had to work out wherabouts he would now be. Calculations made, Dawn gave instructions to the helm as to what course to take and Ray and I took up positions on the search lights looking out for any distiguishing points. It wasn't long before I spotted a reflection in the searchlight and on moving in closer it was confirmed that Dead Fred had been found floating in a few feet of water just off the rocks between Maughold Head and Port Moaar. This was when we had to get the breeches bouy into action. We got the two veering lines out (very long coils of rope) one either side of the boat attaching one end to the front of the dinghy then passing the other end first through a wooden pulley block that has a longish rope on then onto the rear of the dinghy. The pulley block is used when at the casualty to attach to a rock or other steady place and so as when the casualty is placed in the dinghy by using the veering lines the casualty can then be brought back to the boat and if there is more than one of course we can then pull in the opposite direction to get the boat back to  any other casualties that may be there. Basiclly you end up with a very large loop of rope that is pivoted around the pulley block. Anyway the hardest part is to get the pulley block and line out to the casualty and tonight it was down to Ray to row from the lifeboat to the shore, attach the block and bring Dead Fred back on board. Things didn't go quite to plan as it was a lot more difficult for Ray to row to the casualty and it took a lot longer than anyone had thought. Because of this delay Ray was instructed to just bring back Fred without tying up the pulley so it wasn't long until both were back on board safely . Once this was completed we raised the anchor and made our way back to Ramsey completing fire and stop drills on the way before having a beach recovery and the boat was back and ready by 21:15 when it was time for the de-brief. The inspectors were pleased with how things went and I was pleased that I'd been signed off for the breeches boy which only leaves me with one more task which is the helecopter lift. This task is normaly the last one that any crew member does as it involves another party which we really don't have any control over so as seeing last years was cancelled at the very last minute (we had already launched) there are a number of us who still need to be signed off so are all looking forward to the first week in April when this has been penciled in. Hope it's not put off for another year..........


25 February 2007 ------ A first for me today and though I say it myself I did a good job........Again I was lucky to be chosen to go out on this mornings exercise. Steve T, the second coxwain was in charge for todays ride and he chose a fairly new crew, I suppose to give us all some experience. Once launched he asked a number of the crew to get ready to deploy the anchor and me, he asked me to go down in the wheelhouse and be navigator for the day and using the plotter plot a course to Cornaa.....AAARRRGGGHHHHH....These type of tasks are a lot easier when someone more experienced is looking over your shoulder helping. Today I was the most experienced.....After a few errors with panic setting in I managed to recall from the back of my clogged brain the correct procedure for plotting and following a given course. I must say I felt real good when it all appeared on the screen but the real test would be if we ended up in the correct position. Steve was steering on the helm and was only going by my instructions (though I'm sure he was looking out for any dangers that I might have got him into). The course took us out past Maughold Head and then onto Cornaa which meant a change of direction half way. I felt real good when it came up on the screen, that was nothing to how I felt when we got to Cornaa in one piece with no misshaps and I went up on deck and Steve said well done......Wow....I'd managed to get us there safely doing it blindfolded, well just using the screen and co-ordinates. Spent a while here at Cornaa with Steve doing some close in work when he asked me to plot a course back to Ramsey.......This time it proved a lot easier and we were soon on course back to Ramsey and a beach recovery.......................

15 February 2007  ------ Wow ! What an exercise this evenings was as it was very wet, very windy and the sea was a tad rough. Thought that we might not launch earlier in the day but by the time we did things had settled down slightly though when we were still attached to the carriage, before we knocked the chains off that hold the boat on the waves were touching my feet. Once we were on our way myself and Alec (one of the new lads who has done a lot of sailing in the past) were asked to navigate to Port Mooar with Alec on the chart and me on the plotter. It was pitch black outside so steering on the helm was all down to our spoken directions and those of Rob who was keeping a look out on the radar. safely around Maughold head and in the safety of the bay we were instructed to set the drogue. I had completed this task many times before but never in such rough conditions and Alec had never before attempted this task so it was a learning curve for both of us. Pleased to say that it went very well indeed and in no time at all the drogue had been deployed and was doing the job that it was designed to do and that is slow down and stabilise the boat in rough conditions. On looking out over the stern to see if the drogue had set you could then see how rough the conditions were as when we were in the trough of the waves the sea behind was as high as the boat if not higher......Task completed we then retrieved and stored everything away before throwing 'dead fred' over the side as we headed back towards Ramsey. With a man overboard situation it was up to Alen and myself to get out the Jasons cradle and set it up on the starboard side of the boat whilst the others directed the coxwain back to 'dead fred'. Fred spotted it was then a matter of trying to bring him on board as quickly as we could. In normal circumstances we would have a couple of the crew wearing dry suits to go over the side and direct the casualty into the cradle but for tonight we were just going to use a boat hook. Not the best method of retrieval as we ended up, Wayne and myself pulling Fred up just using our hands and arms and brute strength as we couldn't guide him into the cradle. Safely on board we then headed back to the beach where we had a prom recovery and were all back in station with everything back to normal at around 21:00 when it was time to go to the yacht club for a quick drink before  getting off home...............

11 February 2007 ------ No launch today just training in the boathouse. Spent some of the time having a skeet at the pictures taken on last weeks exercise when I was cast adrift and rescued. You can just make me out as they circled me bobbing in the wake....What a great way to spend a Sunday morning....Brilliant..........


04 February 2007 ------ Fantastic weather at 9:30 when we launched the boat on todays exercise and the sea was like a millpond. Again we had 'dead fred' on board ready to be thrown overboard so that we could navigate back to him later. Once we had thrown him overboard I was asked along with Steve T to go down into the survivors cabin and change out of our normal gear and put dry suits on. This could only mean one thing and that was both of us were at sometime going to end up in the sea. Once all geared up we then got out the Jasons cradle and set that up on the starboard side of the boat ready for deployment. Once we had navigated back to 'dead fred' I was instructed to clip on and go over the rails so that I could lower myself into the sea and steer the casualty into the cradle ready for lifting on board. This, as is normal whenever I try and do anything for the first time was a lot easier said than done . One of the reasons being that I didn't put my dry suit on correctly. Well it was on correctly keeping me dry but I had forgotten , when fully zipped up to pull out the neck and squat down which expels all the air out of the suit. As I hadn't done this my legs were floating up to the surface as they were full of air and I struggled to make any movements at all. It was if I was floating in the Dead Sea, I just couldn't get my legs down. Anyway after a bit of time I managed to direct 'dead fred' into the cradle and hold him in there whislt he was lifted aboard. Once safely on board it was then my turn but before I was to be rescued I was to be set adrift so my life line was unclipped and I was now loose in the Irish Sea just bobbing about. Rob, the deputy second coxwain  who was in charge for todays exercise said he wouldn't be gone long and he was true to his word and in no time he was alongside me and I was scooped up and soon safely on board. Once on board I expelled all the air in my suit just in case I had to go over the side again which I did . This time to guide Steve T into the cradle who had just jumped in . I had clipped on but not to the best place so my line was a bit too long and again I struggled as I was fully immersed in the water instead of being just above it with my feet on the side of the boat just as if I was abseiling. Climbed up out of the water back on to the boat had a chat about where to clip on so I was sent over the rails again and this time instead of taking my line under the rail it went over the top, in effect shortening the line so I could then lean right back with my feet on the hull and my body just touching the surface. A much better way indeed and a valuable lesson learned. All on board we then headed into the harbour where Wayne did some manouvering  practice before we came out and beached around 11:30 ready for a prom recovery...........

25 January 2007 ------ Well that certainly got your attention didn't it but I can assure you I was telling the truth as on tonights exercise we visited The Bahamas and it was wet, windy and cold and certainly not sunny like the brochures would like you believe.......Well it was not quite The Bahamas but The Bahama Bank Buoy. This is situated about eight miles east of Ramsey and marks surprise, surprise The Bahama Bank which is a shallow area of sea.....Tonights exercise was all about search and recovery so whilst on the way to the buoy we threw 'dead fred' overboard and carried on our way. After reaching the bouy and Steve T doing various manoeuvres we then headed back in search of Fred. Steve O and Wayne had worked out whereabouts he should have drifted to so we steamed off in that direction and once in the near vicinity started a search pattern with myself and Alec on the search lights either side of the helm and Michelle at the bow with the hand held light. It wasn't long until Alec spotted Fred in the distance and we were soon alongside with the already prepared Jasons Cradle in position on the side of the boat for recovery. After what seemed an age of struggling and lifting fred was aboard safe and sound so we made our way back to shore for a beach recovery and then for me off to work.........................

21 January 2007 ------ Spent most of todays time here showing a new lad who is interested in joining the ropes. I mean that literaly as between myself and Ray we were showing him the eight knots that you need to know to become a crew member. great thing to do as if me showing the young chap or anyone else for that matter certainly helps me to remember them. Whilst here I sat in the tractor and took a few pics just to show you what the view is like when launching.................

04 January 2007  ------ First exercise of the year and I'm sure one where the coxswain who on this ocasion was Rob (deputy 2nd cox) learnt a valuable lesson as I did and that was that I'm not the best rower of a boat on the crew. No, maybe I should rephrase that and say that I'm probably the worst rower of a boat that is on the crew. We were tasked to deploy the X boat and row to the pier and attach a pulley and block to one of the stanchions. We never got to the pier as I couldn't get the X boat there with Michelle and myself on board. We made four attempts but fell short on each occasion. In the end we had to abort as the rope that we were pulling (the veering line) got caught up in the propeller and was cut. Lesson learned don't ask me to row or for that matter I need a lot more practice....Think I'll go with the second......Once everything was back on board and stowed away we went in search of a man over board on a search pattern to give the navigator hands on experience. We had all the spot lights out as well as the night sight and succesfully completed this with time to spare. We then headed back to port with varying crew on the wheel practicing man over board (the man being a fender) manouveres. this completed it was back on the beach for a beach recovery then on to the yacht club for a quick pint then home..................

14 December 2006 ------ Took the night off from work especially for tonights exercise as there were two inspectors on board and guess what ?.........as luck would have it things went wrong right from the start. Typical isn't it. There was nothing major, just little things........One of the main tasks when launching is the knocking off of the chains that hold the boat to the carriage. There are four of these, two either side and there is of course a set procedure to carry out the task as the timing has to be perfect. Firstly we are given the order to take out the safety pin then after a while the large retaining pin. The tractor then reverses away from the boat and at that precise moment we are given the order to knock the chains off using lump hammers. The first two went OK last night then it started to go wrong as the chain that I was doing fell off on it's own accord. This wasn't major (it's a lot more dangerous if the chain doesn't come off and the boat starts to go forward when it's still attached) but still it was something that wasn't right. Right on high tide when we launched so it was straight around into the harbour for manouvers and tying up along side. This was made more awkward as fishing boats were coming in to unload their catch. We tied up OK but then when pushing off one of the ropes that we were slipping off got stuck so we had to go forward again and one of the fisherman on the boat we were tying up next to went and freed the rope for us.....How embarrasing.......Things from then on seemed to go fine. We did a search pattern just off the Dog Mills before returning to have a beach recovery at around 21:00. I've been on a lot better exercises but we all learn from our mistakes don't we............

03 December 2006 ------ Stormy seas and the wind blowing up to gale force eleven but we still went out on exercise and it was brilliant. It was pretty well protected in the bay until we just got past Maughold Head when we hit the real heavy seas and the boat was rocking all over the place. Moved a bit more in shore to get the protection from the wind and did the drogue before doing man over board drills where we took it in turns on the helm. My attempt, I'm afraid to say was a little poor though it's only the second time I've done close manouvering but at least I got somewhere close and the conditions were pretty abysmal to say the least. Once the fender was safely stowed we then steamed back to Ramsey where we entered the harbour and moored up against the harbour wall as if we were intending to stay there for the night. That carried out successfully we then steamed out of the harbour and straight on to the beach for a prom recovery. All in all a most enjoyable and excellent exercise...........................


19 November 2006 ------ Had a very useful morning down the boathouse today picking up some more knowledge as well as showing the new recruits a thing or two. We were mainly concentrating today on buoyage and waymarks. These are used to direct you into harbours and to mark danger spots and clear passage ways. We have all the different types on small cards so Dawn made a passage on the floor using these cards and we had to walk this course explaining to her what each of the markers were and what they meant. This may sound silly but it was very informative as well as being fun and I certainly learnt a few more things for instance  Cardinal marks and the rules governing these. It was then coincidental that after doing all this I spoke to a couple of crew  who were trying to get some old photos of the lifeboat from a cd onto the new computer we have but were having difficulties.  We'd ran out of time so I said I'd take the cd's home with me and have a look to see if I could get the images off them.  Once I'd put the cd's in my pc I managed to get the images up straight away and some of them were of the west cardinal mark that is just off the Point of Ayre.......


12 November 2006  ------ With it being remembrance Sunday no launch of the boat today as we attended the parade. As in previous years it was a very moving service though this year we did join in the march past at the end and I felt very humble indeed.......................

02 November 2006 ------ So glad that I chose to have the evening off from work as I was picked to go out on the Lifeboat and had a great evening exercise. I spent most of the time down in the wheelhouse monitoring the radar where for a change there was an awful amount of activity. This was due to the fact that there were around twenty different scallop dredgers in the bay as the scallop season started yesterday and it seemed that the whole fleet was out as the sea was as calm as a millpond. Normally we struggle to pick up anything on the radar apart from the coast as there isn't a great deal of activity but tonight it was excellent as we were able to monitor as many as we liked and pick them up and get used to reading the radar picture.  The sky was pitch black illuminated by a very bright moon and by the time we had finished it was full tide so a prom recovery was order of the day. I stayed on board to help clean down on deck and we were safely in by around 21:15 ready for the next time..............


30 October 2006 ------ With me now working nights it's only on a Sunday that I really get time to go down the boathouse and seeing as I missed last weeks due to my hangover I made certain that I was down there for todays training. I'm glad I did as I had some good news.........On Thursday just gone one of the inspectors was on the island visiting so at very short notice I was asked to go down the boathouse and be tested on a couple of the remaining modules that needed to be done so that I could progress from being a probationary crew member to a fully fledged crew member. I decided to go into work an hour late so went down the boathouse and was questioned on the two modules which were, basic knowledge of the machinery on board the Lifeboat and the correct procedure for using. This included the boat engines themselves along with the fire and bildge systems and the salvage pump. This was quickly followed by the second module which covered lookout where I had to answer questions on what I would have to look out for in an emergency and what were the differing markers and lights that the inspector was showing me on flip cards. I had to rush off at the end so never found out how I got on until today when I was told I'd passed and that I was now a full crew member. I've still a great deal to learn but at least I've got this far. Also we've got two new chaps coming down now who are very keen to join up and it was great to be able to show them things that they didn't know and which I've learned over the past year or so. It certainly made me feel good.................

01 October 2006 ------ Picked to go out on todays exercise which was a bonus as I thought that maybe seeing as I went on the last one I might have been left as shore crew so I was very pleased indeed. Started off with anchoring just off Port-e-Vullen. Been a while since I did this and it showed as I made my usual error in getting the anchor rope on the post the wrong way round. Sounds impossible I know but for some reason I seem to manage to do it like this all the time. In the boathouse practicing I'm fine, out on the boat in a real situation it's a different story anyway anchor set it was then down to the real business and that was learning the correct procedure for letting off the rocket lines. These are used if we can't get near to a casualty for whatever reason. We attach a rope to the end of the line which is 250 metres long and fire the rocket and it goes off at a rate of knots. I'd been lucky enough to have done this before but other crew members hadn't so it was their turn today. Once that part was completed we retrieved the anchor, turned around and made our way towards the point where we were told we had to look out for a casualty and at the same time practice our search pattern. Michelle, who was on the navigating today had worked out the approximate place where the casualty might be this being on the beach not far from the point. Dawn and I then got the binoculars out and stood at the bow keeping watch. It wasn't long until we spotted the casualty on the beach ( a buoy with a marker on it) so now we had to go and rescue it. Out with the dinghy and inflate it we soon had it in the water and Gordon and myself jumped in and rowed the 100 metres or so to the beach. The sea by this time was a bit lively and to add to this we were being blown by the wind on to the shore which was a bonus though it did become a hinderance. We beached the dinghy and just as I'd got one foot out onto the shingle the wind got up at the same time a rather large wave was hitting the shore the outcome of which was that the dinghy tipped up and in doing so pushed me over into the sea. Soaked to the skin we walked the few yards to the casualty before emptying the dinghy of sea water and placing the casualty at the bow of the dinghy to help it keep it down on our return journey to the Lifeboat. This was one part I wasn't looking forward to and I said to Gordon fancy leaving the boat here and walking back along the beach he agreed knowing full well that we wouldn't. We got hold of the dinghy either side and waited until a wave had just come ashore then we waded out into the sea, I jumped aboard and just as Gordon was getting in a big wave hit us but we managed to keep upright. Both in position now we rowed back Canadian style to the boat where we were glad to get back on board for the journey back to Ramsey where we had a beach recovery and all was back ready for the next time by 12:30.........................................

18 September ------ Unusual for us to have an exercise on a Monday night but the inspectors were here from across so the day was changed. It  turned out to be a joint exercise as we joined up with  the Douglas Lifeboat just off Maughold Head and did some towing. Before we launched we were experiencing terrible weather with very heavy rain and very strong winds. By the time we launched the rain had abated but the wind was still quite strong and was whipping the sea up especially as we neared Maughold Head. I was on the radar for only the second time since doing the course and even though it's a different set up than the one we trained on I was able to pick up numerous vessels as well as our target, the Douglas Lifeboat. Another part of the exercise was to pick up 'Dead Fred' whom Douglas had dropped off into the sea before they met up with us. 'Dead Fred' is a lifesize dummy of a man with lifejacket attached that we use to simulate rescuing people and picking them up out of the water. When submerged in water this dummy weighs in excess of 14 stone so is quite a weight to bring back on board but first we had to find him. We had been given the co-ordinates of where  the Douglas boat had dropped him over board and had to work out where he would have drifted and where we were to start our search. Wayne calculated all this out on the plotter but before we could get to the position we got a message on the radio from one of the local fishing vessels in the area telling us that they had spotted what they thought was a body in the water and after describing what they had seen and giving us the position they were relieved to find out that it was only our dummy dead Fred. This gave us an excellent starting place for our search pattern so I went up on deck with a pair of binoculars and stood lookout along with another of the crew. By now it was getting fairly dark and the waves were the roughest I'd experienced and at times I was struggling to stand upright and was getting soaked by the waves crashing over the deck. These would be the very type of conditions that we could expect in a real rescue situation so it was real good to get to know what it would be like. First Steve O was on the wheel then Mark, the coxswain took over whilst Steve O got the night sight out and just as he returned up on deck Mark spotted the flashing light of the dummies lifejacket on the bow about two hundred yards away. Whilst mark manouvered the boat into position we put the Jasons Cradle into position and when up close to the casualty Stev O and myself got hold of the cradles ropes while Steve T and Wayne with the help of the hook poles brought the dummy in close enough and above the cradle in the correct position ready to haul aboard. This we managed to do in a fairly quick time and in no time at all the dummy was on board at the stern of the boat safely. It was then a fifteen minute bouncing and wet journey back to shore for a prom recovery with everything back in place by about 21:15..........


10 September 2006 ------ Just got back shattered and wet after todays fantastic exercise that was a lot longer than normal, the reason being that it was a joint exercise with the local coastguard. The scenario was that two people had injured themselves on board the Ben Maye and it was our job to go and first treat them and then secondly evacuate them to our boat. As is normal this sounds a lot easier than it really is as once down in the shower room of the Ben Maye there was hardly any room to move about let alone put someone on a stretcher and take them up the near vertical stairs and out on deck for transfer to the lifeboat. However we mangaed to do it succesfully so much so that once the Ben had departed we then did a similar exercise this time on the Siver River after which we then did man overboard exercises using one of the crew and the Jasons cradle. All this was done in the safety of the harbour with quite a few spectators looking on with cameras and videos at the ready. On board with us today was one of the inspectors and the first thing that he had us do was for me to take control of the boat to do some manoevoures. I've had control of the boat many times before but never to do close in moves as in man overboard exercises and at first I was very nervous but in the end I think I got the hang of it. After doing a few of these the coxswain asked me to take the boat into the harbour between the stone piers and as I was doing so another boat was coming out. I managed to steer clear of this and slowed right down for my final approach though by this time the coxswain had noticed that I was a tad nervous so he took charge. After all the work in the harbour it was then out into the bay for a quick steam up to Port-e-Vullen where as seeing as it was high tide the waves were crashing on the rocks. Just wish I'd remembered to take my camera as it would have been nice to have a different view of Port-e-Vullen when the waves were crashing down. All over too soon it was just a short way back to land at the beach for a prom recovery and everything was back ready for the next time at around 14:30............


31 August 2006 ------ Due to my shift patterns it's been a while since I went out on an exercise so was looking forward to tonights as I hadn't done an evening practice for a while. As it happened there were a lot of the crew who turned up as well who hadn't had the same amount of time that I have had out on the boat in the last few months so they were chosen before me which is only fair and I only went on as an observer which was a good thing as I had my camera in hand and took a load of pics though most of these were pretty poor. After doing some manoeuvres in the harbour we headed out towards Maughold Head where we anchored up, attached another line to the anchor rope and practiced veering down where you rotate around the anchor pivot. Whilst this was going on crew members got the salvage pump out from the survivors cabin and started this up before being requested to get the dinghy out and inflate it ready for the next part of the exercise. Once the anchor was safely stowed away we then headed towards the Iron Pier though by this time the weather had changed dramaticaly from being very nice and sunny evening to one being very black and threatening with a strong wind that had turned what was previously a calm sea into one that had quite a few white horses. Despite this the dinghy was put over the side and two of the crew who had changed into dry suits boarded this and practiced being steamed into position between the pier stanchions. After this with the dinghy and two crew on board it was then back to the boathouse with us practicing man overboard situations on the way back before we had a beach recovery with all back in place for around 21:30 when it was then off to the yacht club for deserved refreshment.............................. 30 July 2006 ------ Only hours after being down the boathouse on the stood down shout we were all again present for todays exercise. R the deputy second coxswain took the exercise and wanted to do a few radar checks along with search patterns and rescue of the coxswain and second coxswain who had both donned dry suits and hidden themselves somewhere along the coast with the hand held radio. This part of the exercise covered two aspects firstly locating where they were using the radio directional facility that we have on board and secondly getting the X boat out and rescuing them. We already had the X boat out as that was part of the first mission. Myself and R were set adrift in this along with a radar reflector and the Lifeboat sped away just to see at what distance the radar could locate us clearly in the dinghy. This proved to be only half a mile, the reason being that the reflector was probably only three feet maximum out of the water. Whilst R and I were sunning ourselves just floating in the what was becoming a much choppier sea the Lifeboat went of on a search pattern after which they came back and picked us up then we set off in pursuit of M & S who were somewhere along the coast. Once located it was a matter of launching the dinghy again and rowing out to complete the rescue. Once on board with time running out we started making our way back to Ramsey and at varying points along the way dropped a fender overboard to simulate a man over board event and each of us took turns at either being on the helm or on the navigation table. Once this was completed we carried on to Ramsey where we were, after a beach recovery all fueled up and ready to go for the next one at around 13:00. A fantastic days exercise, I feel it's all starting to come together.............................

shout

30 July 2006 ------ Not sure if I should count this one but heh I did get on the boat and it did get all the way down the slip. Woke up at 03:30 with the message launch ALB on the pager. Got down the boathouse to learn that a young woman was contemplating suicide near to Ramsey pier. With the crew aboard and the coxswain in contact with the local coastguard we made our way onto the slipway and I had just got out the spotlights when we were stood down as the coasties had all under control. Oh well I can't think of a better way to spend a very early Sunday morning can you?...................

16 July 2006 ------ Today was the first day that we would put into practice for real what we had learned in the radar trailer and we were all looking forward to the challenge it would bring. Firstly all the windows of the wheelhouse were covered up whilst we were still in the boathouse so we couldn't see where we were going visualy just by radar. It seemed really wierd at first but then we goy used to it and took it in turns to either man the helm or instruct the helm by use of the radar. Things were going really well and we were just off Port Moar when Liverpool coastguard alerted us to a boat in danger so we had to end the exercise and go off in search of the stranded boat 'Blodwyn'......................................
...................Having our regular Sunday exercise when it was interrupted by Liverpool coastguard asking for us to go to the aid of a fishing boat "Blodwyn" that was in difficulty just off the Dog Mills. We weren't that far away so were on the scene pretty quickly. The boat with two young lads on board had engine failure and it had been blown onto the beach.  We couldn't get near to the casualty with our Lifeboat so we got out the X boat inflated it and R & W donned dry suits and rowed over to the casualty taking with them a tow rope. This was attached to the boat and we pulled it off the sand then towed her all the way back to Ramsey harbour. It was low tide so we had to wait off the stone piers until there was enough water so we could enter the harbour and berth her safely. Then it was just a matter of getting the boat back in the boathouse and she was all refueled and ready for the next one just before two...


03 July 2006 ------ First day of seven which will be spread over the next two weeks when I will learn or at least attempt to learn all there is to know about the radar and navigation systems on board our boat. For this exercise a special trailer with all the necessary equipment will be parked outside the boathouse. This is when the hard work will start.........Day one saw us watching a few videos as well as familiarising ourselves with the controls on the two pieces of equipment we will be using over the next few days which are the GPS (Global Positioning System) and the Laser plotter. They work in tandem together but the brains behind it all is the GPS which uses exactly the same principal as sat nav in cars. The laser plotter is where you can control the whole system grapically, so instead of street maps we have a map of the sea, well chart to give it it's correct terminology.............Day two, very much hands on with us using the system to plot a course to a casualty just off the point of Ayre. My first attempt was pretty poor to say the least. The brief was to get to the casualty as quickly and as safely as possible, bearing in mind that the weather conditions were very thick fog with nil visibility. If we'd followed my course we would have only gone 100 yards at the most. The reason for this is just on the port side (left for you land lubbers) of the boathouse are the stone piers that lead into Ramsey harbour and instead of heading out past these then taking a course north to the point I just plotted a course straight north off the beach.....Bad mistake, one which I wont make again in a hurry. Both these days the lessons lasted for more than three hours so it was good news that the third day would only be about half an hour the bad news was that we would be tested on all we had learned. Day three and we were now on our own without the help of others and after a shaky start and with a few errors in the middle I managed to complete the task to the satisfaction of the instructor this included creating a search pattern as well as navigating to the scene of the casualty which again happened to be just past the point..........Pheeeeewwww........... Navigation over with on the laser plotter, day four saw us start on the radar side of the course and after three and a half hours we still hadn't even switched the radar on. What we had done was to scramble what is left of my brain cells. All we did today was plot on paper positions of targets off the radar screen (imaginary) and from these positions  calculate if there was the danger of collision as well as our own speed and direction and the speed and direction of any of the targets. Sounds easy I know but it was all relative, actual, what if, what ever etc etc. I was struggling, I really was so I took it all home where after studying it for quite a few hours the penny just dropped........The weekend off when we had Lifeboat Day it was then back in the trailer on Monday for day five and for us for the first time to switch on the radar and to learn all of the controls. The instructor had said on the previous Thursday whilst we were all struggling to understand the plotting that we would be able to do all the necessary calculations without using paper when we just looked at the screen. We all laughed at him, we needn't have bothered as he was correct. It was amazing how we could interpret the information that we were getting on the screen and work out the various calculations. It was hard work but we all felt that we had learned something very useful but the test would come on day six and seven when in pairs we had to carry out a couple of exercises. Brain working overtime it was off to the boathouse for the acid test and I would be in charge of the radar with S in control of the boat. The trailer that we are using is equiped with four 'Bridges' and has simulation software something similar to a computer game but a bit more sophisticated. Anyway by the time we sat down and had our brief I was shaking and sweating, the moment had arrived when I would have to try and recall everything I'd learned over the past few days. Todays scenario was that we were in a fair sized boat / ship just outside Milford Haven ( one of the busiest ports in the UK especially for large oil tankers manouvering to the very large oil refinery, they couldn't have picked a worse place I'm sure) and had to navigate our way in thick fog all along the channel and to anchor safely with the use of radar only. We did it!  After a very slow start we both grew in confidence and the hour and a half that the exercise took just seemed to fly by. We managed the whole thing without colliding with any other vessels and were able to interpret what we saw on the screen and put this in practice though at the end we weren't where we had planned to be we were about 100 yards out of position........Last day and the roles were reversed I was in charge of the ships controls and S was in charge of the radar. We went into the trailer not knowing anything at all and were briefed....... We were in a Lifeboat  positioned off the west coast of Scotland by a NATO re-fueling depot (for the life of me I can't recall the exact place but we were up a tributary so to speak with land either side). We were told a ship had caught fire and we were given the ships last known co-ordinates then by using radar alone had to get there as quickly as possible to rescue any people that may be in difficulty.......Wow, couldn't get any harder. We had a chart and all the necessary kit and it wasn't long before we had familiarised ourselves with the location we were in using the radar screen and chart and were steaming at a full 25 knots towards the casualty. Dodging different obstacles along the way it was a great feeling when the casualty came into view (this was after an hour) and we made the rescue. What a result!  Both S and I were over the moon that A, we had completed the course and B, that we had completed the task in hand without any misshaps and we both felt that we had achieved an awful am,ount over the last few days. From not being able to operate either pieces of equipment, after instruction we both had the confidence to be able to do it for real in a  real life situation. Whenever that may occur we will be ready. A brilliant course and I've learned so much.....Not bad for an old un is it?..........................

02 July 2006 ------ Today, Sunday sees the annual blessing of the boat service which takes place in Market Square. This year we pre planned and managed to put out no parking cones so the journey with the boat from the boathouse and back again on the trailer was smoother than last years. Saying that though someone did move one of the cones and park his car in the space whilst we were attending the service so we had to bump the car out of the way. Apart from that all went well  with the rain holding off until later in the day which made it nice for the many people who attended...............
11 June 2006 ------ Yet another fantastic exercise where I learned some new skills. We launched as is normal for a Sunday at 09:30 on a rising tide. Doc and D who are on our crew had at the same time time launched their yacht Manx Jig which was going to be an integral part of todays exercise. Going out slowly from Ramsey we met up and transfered Fred to Manx Jig. Todays scenario was that a member of the Manx Jig crew had taken a funny turn with pains in his chest, this of course was DEAD FRED. Once Fred was on board the casualty vessel we then had to prepare ourselves on the Lifeboat. OK, dinghy, stretcher, first aid kit. As the weather was just perfect, blazing sunshine still waters there was no need for the dinghy so we were able to manouvre the boat into position (by S, 2nd coxswain) where R (deputy 2nd coxswain) and myself boarded the casualty vessel with all our equipment. After close examination of the casualty we administerd medication, this being asprin, a spray which when administerd opens up the veins and atreies to get more oxygen as well as fitting an oxygen mask on demand valve. Once comfortable we then put the casualty on the stretcher and transferred him to the Lifeboat for a quick evacuatuion of the scene. That wasn't the end of it as we then R and I had to set up a tow as the yacht had broken down as well. (How unlucky). It was decided that we would do what is called a bridle tow which I hadn't come across before. What this entails is instead of attaching the tow rope to one certain place ( it may not be strong enough to take the weight) you spread the load around the whole boat using as many cleats as you can therefore dispecing the load and pull. This done we were then towed by the Lifeboat for a while before letting loose when R and I re-joined the Lifeboat for the short journey back to Ramsey and a prom recovery for the boat............................................

04 June 2006 ------ It's been a hell of along time since our last shout and yet again I missed this one. We had earlier in the week had a call when we were set down but todays did go to launch and I missed it all. The reason I missed it was that I was driving back home from the airport after flying in after my daughters wedding. Once home I checked my pager and was amazed to see the message LAUNCH ALB. On seeing the time I saw that the launch was only an hour or so before I got home so I was straight back in the car for the short drive to the boathouse to get all the skeet. It turned out that a small boat 'MVB Gulf Mist' had engine failure one and a half miles south of Maughold Head so we were launched and towed her back into Ramsey where D and I were waiting to tie her up safely in the harbour. It was then only a short walk to the boathouse to help with the recovery of the boat and we were all back ready and waiting within the hour.................

01 June 2006 ------ Todays exercise was brilliant, no other word for it. We all came off the Boat exhausted but exhilarated. We had on board a new dummy for man overboard exercises along with a new EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). These we threw overboard just as we were passing Maughold Head (to be picked up later....this proved to be only a very minor part of the exercise)......Once these were in the water we were all called to the stern where the coxswain for the evening R (new deputy second cox) instructed us as what was just about to unfold....... Tonights scenario was as follows........ We had information off the local coastguard that someone had been walking the coastal path but hadn't arrived at his / her destination at the given time. They were concerned that something had happened so called on us for our services. With the knowledge of where the walk started from, the coxswain manouvered the boat so we weren't too far away from the coast where we kept a look out for anything out of the ordinary. Whilst he was doing this the rest of the crew got ready the inflatable dinghy (X Boat) along with first aid kit and stretcher in case they were needed....Standing on the bow, binoculars being used it wasn't long until I spoted something odd only to find that it was some flotsam or jetsam. A few minutes later our mood changed as I spotted another thing and on getting closer noticed that it was a casualty lying injured on the rocks at Port Moar. We then launched the X boat with A and myself carrying the stretcher, large first aid kit and G who is part of our crew but who is also a Doctor coming along to view how we coped with the casualty. Thankfully it was a very pleasant evening and the sea was calm and it wasn't long until we were next to the casualty after tying up the X boat and clambouring over seaweed covered rocks. OK casualty (second coxswain S) obviously had fallen badly as his left leg was bent right under him at a very funny angle. Firstly we checked out his vital signs (ABC....Airway, Breathing, Circulation) then on talking to him we found out that he wasn't alone and that there was at least one other person with him. After a more thorough examination and finding that the broken leg was the only major problem I left A to fit the splint whilst I went in search of the other known casualty.....Climbing over these seaweed strewn rocks is a lot easier said than done and on more than one occasion I was worried that I may become a casualty myself so I was really pleased when I spotted another body lying on the rocks. Getting nearer I realised it was D (G's the doctors wife who is a teacher and who is also part of our crew). Once with the casualty I did a quick examination and found that she was dropping in and out of conciousness and had fallen and in most probabilty injured her neck. During the times that she was able to speak I managed to find out that there was a third casualty who had swam off in the direction of Ramsey. As we had our headsets on for communication to the boat I relayed this information back to the boat who then went in search of the third person (who happened to be the station coxswain M) finding him trying to swim to Ramsey to raise the alarm A & G after making casualty one comfortable then came to where I was and together A and I managed with great dificulty I must add put a surgical collar on D and place her in the stretcher ready for recovery to the Lifeboat. S, the first casualty was in the dinghy already with his leg in a splint. We then had to lift D in the stretcher and place her across the  top of the dinghy. A and myself then straddled the dinghy and rowed Hawaii Five O fashion towards the Lifeboat where we could get the casualties into a safer place. This proved rather difficult as the following photos show. Once safely on board we then returned for the Doc, recovered we were then all on board and the only thing now to do was rcover the previously thrown out dummy whom is now called DEAD FRED. We had attached the EPIRB to the body when thrown over so as to see how along with the manual navigation worked how the sat nav did it's job. We were bang on target on both as we manouvered up close to the floating DEAD FRED. Now for the hard part getting Fred aboard. M and I clipped our life lines on and went over the side and with a lot of pushing and shoving finally managed to get Fred safely aboard. ( Just a point here Fred when wet weighs 42 kilos which is quite a weight to get up and out of the water and into the Lifeboat). Once on board it was then full steam ahead towards Ramsey beach along with a beach recovery and once al  shipshape a few drinks in the local yacht club. What a fantastic evening.........................


12 May 2006 ------ It's been a lot of hard work especially last night out on the boat but the last two weeks of first aid training has been fantastic. There were a total of eight of us crew on the course and we all learnt a great deal. The instructor who is a full time employee of the RNLI was just fantastic. Steve made the whole business interesting and none of us at any time felt bored. He mixed seriousness with laughter and the balance was just right. In the end he had us working as one well oiled unit. Well maybe not so well oiled but we know after last nights exercise what is required and will in the future be honing these skills on a regular basis. From knowing virtually nothing we all now have the ability to save a persons life especially at sea. Just hope that we don't have to use these skills very often. The past two weeks culminated in last nights exercise which went really well. The scenario was that we had to rescue a mildly hypothermic casualty. One of the crew donned the dry suit and once we were launched and had gone out around to Port-e-Vullen he jumped over board then the rescue was on.....Out of the survivors cabin at the bow came the Jasons Cradle and the stretcher. The stretcher we placed in the wheel house and the cradle we positioned on the starboard side of the boat in readiness for picking up the casualty. The cradle is attached by webbing to the side rails and placed over the side of the boat it is made of a hard durable plastic squares that are all linked together so when put over the side form a U.  Not a very good description so look here to get my meaning. Once in position myself and another crew member clipped on our life lines and went over the side of the boat to position the casualty into the cradle ready for pulling up onto the boat. With myself and S the other crew member on the outside pushing and the other two crew on deck pulling we soon had the casualty out of the water and onto a carrying pouch ready to lift to the stern of the boat. Back on the deck we secured the casualty and managed to carry him to the stern where he would be more protected from the elements and where we administered oxygen, covered him in a blanket and put on a heat retaining balaclava. We then had to get him into the wheel house and position him on to the stretcher. This isn't as easy at it sounds especially as the casualty was one of the larger members of the crew. Anyway we managed it without breaking anything then had to do it all over again this time using instead of the flexible carrying pouch position the casualty on to the rigid stretcher. This proved a hell of a lot more difficult and in the de - brief afterwards we all thought that it would be a lot easier to use the first method up until we were going into the wheel house and then have the rigid stretcher sticking out of the doorway where we then could place the casualty onto the stretcher and then take them in easier........After all of this we were feeling very warm indeed and with that part of the exercise over with we then carried on with deck training and assesment and had the boat back in the boathouse by about 21:15 then it was off for a celibratory drink at the yacht club next door and I was home by 22:00 shattered, exhausted but pleased at passing and getting another certificate....................................

30 April 2006 ------ What a fantastic day. Very tiring but exhilarating at the same time. Started off with a 09:30 launch with the sun shining a very slight breeze and the sea only having a very slight swell. Perfect conditions especially for the race that would start later at noon. As soon as we were underway the coxswain, R gave the helm to Rand asked me to go into the wheelhouse with him to do some navigating. Firstly I marked our current position on the chart then had to mark the position of where our pretend casualty was and plot the course giving directions to R on the helm. As well as this I was shown how to input data into the on board sat nav system then shown how to work out our estimated time of arrival at our destination. This done we checked on the screen on the sat nav to see that my figures agreed with those of the computer........Arriving at our destination it was then out to the helm driving position and for me to take over controling the boat  on different manoeuvress before meeting up with two other crew members who had come out on D's rib to carry out different towing exercises.....This completed it was then into the harbour to tie up against the side and bring on some of the shore crew who haven't been out on the boat for quite a time. We didn't go too far as the yacht race was just about to start so we stayed close by watching these yachts jockeying for position to ensure that they didn't miss the starting gun. Once the race was off we headed up to Maughold Head before returning into the harbour to tie up again and for us to get off and get something to eat. Refreshed and sated we re-boarded with some new crew and left the harbour at first heading out to the Point where one of the crew through over board a weighted buoy (for us to locate later) then we headed off back to Maughold Head. The afternoon exercise was to consist of two tasks the first one was breechers bouy the second one creating a search pattern for a man overboard situation (the reason we through the weighted buoy over). This would be only the second time I'd done breechers bouy but it went well. Two crew had prepaired the X boat (blow up dinghy) whilst D and myself were in the wheelhouse working out where in an hour and a halfs time the weighted bouy would have drifted (mainly D did this I just wrote down various things) so we could then create a search pattern to go and retrieve the object later. The anchor was put out and another line attached to this from the stern so we could veer down and stay in a horizontal position to the anchor instead of vertical. The breechers buoy is a system of ropes attached to a buoy and pulley in one continuous loop so you can pull survivors from where they are stranded back to the boat. The X boat was then launched and two crew P & A got into it carrying the block (pulley) and taking the line with them and rowed to a rock, attached the block and then rowed back to the boat handing us the end of the line (we now had both ends) which we attached to the  life buoy. P who was wearing a dry suit was then asked to jump in the water and hold onto the life buoy whilst I pulled on the rope and pulled him back to the rock. Once back on the rock M who was on the other end of the rope pulled it back and R who was also wearing a dry suit got in the water and was hauled to meet up with P on the rock. I then hauled both of them back to the boat whilst A rowed back. Safely on board, anchor stowed back in place we then re-traced our course and went in search of the casualty we threw in earlier.  Once in the location that we had worked out previously we went out on deck to be lookouts to search for our target. By this time the weather had changed and things were pretty cold and wet by the time we found it. Once on board we then headed back to Ramsey for a beach recovery and the boat was back ready for the next time at around 18:15...Pheww what a day but I did manage to get some good photos..........................

16 April 2006 ------ Today was a bit different down the boathouse as we didn't have an exercise nor did we do any training, well some did but I didn't as all I wanted to do was talk to some of the crew to tell them about a decision I had come to. I've been pondering this decision for a while and had decided to tell them that I wanted to come off the boat and just concentrate on the shore side of things.  I'm not getting any younger and feel that I could also be a lot fitter. I haven't been confident in my abilities for a while and it's this lack of confidence that is compounding everything and that if I only make one very small error then everything multiplies and I feel as if I'm not able to cope. Because of this feeling I would hate to be in a position where any slight error I may make may hinder the operation so for now I've asked not to go out on the boat. They understood this and have said that they will be willing to help me out in any way they can. I'm not giving up the Lifeboat at all as I said I still want to be heavily involved in the shore crew side of things and you never know I might get my confidence back and when I do I'll see if they would consider having me back on the boat.................

09 April 2006 ------ Sea was as calm as anything when we lanched and the sun was shining though it was bitterly cold. Quite a high tide so we started off doing various tasks in the harbour. This finished we then headed off to The Point of Ayre. Did I say the sea was calm?  It certainly wasn't when we reached here. The waves must have been a good twelve to fifteen foot high which made it a tad uneasy I can tell you but at least I wasn't sick. We then headed back towards Ramsey and home but on the way performed a fire drill which went well. Did some radar work as well as some navigation but I must say I'm finding it a lot harder than I thought I would.............................................................

11 March 2006 ------ First time I've been out on the boat for a month and it seems I've lost my touch. Not that I did anything too bad it's just that I did make a few silly errors which the way I am seemed enormous and then multiplied until I was dreading what came next. Did quite a few tasks which included one that I'd never done before and that was the procedure for using the fire hose. We have on board the Mersey two systems which can pump water onto a fire. First the main one which I was using today uses the bilge system where you connect the fire hose to the outlet at the bow of the boat near to the locker on the port side. The other system is using the salvage pump which is stored in the survivors cabin. When taken out of the cabin and put in position this can either be used to pump water out of a sinking vessel or suck water out of the sea and with a hose attached fight a fire....Also had to do the anchor as well as the emergency steering which didn't go down to well I'm afraid. Oh nearly forgot the worst one...and this was to go down into the very small space at the stern of the boat and take out the port cylinder (I've forgotten the correct terminology here) it's a clynder which is above both propellers which can be removed so access is available to the props if the boat has snagged on anything. I had to remove the port side and then find the bilge pipe so as the bilges could be cleared. This is a lot easier said than done as there is hardly any room down here and with all your gear on you struggle to move around. By the time I'd completed what I had to do I'm sure I must have lost a few pounds in weight due to sweating it all away....urgggghhhhh. Anyway, that over it was only a short time until we headed back to shore for I'm afraid a prom recovery......

19 February 2006 ------ No practice launch today but still went out on the boat, well to be honest the dinghy or X Boat. After the exercise the other day when we had to get the X boat out and I struggled to row the boat thought that I'd get in a bit of practice so today was the first time that we had to get some in. Pity that the sea was a bit rough though they did say that if I could row in this I could row in anything. The second mechanic S came with me to help out, so togged all up in our dry suits and helmets we had to carry the boat a fair way across the sands (blowing a gale I must add) 'till we reached the sea. It was then that the hard work started. We decided because it was so rough to row Canadian style at first to get over the first six or so breaking waves. This seemed to take us ages and by the time we'd got through the surf we were both shattered and the boat was full to the brim with water. Taking a rest from rowing now that we were out of the surf we spent a lot of time just bailing out all the water. This was an endless task as we were still being buffeted by the large waves, so once we were half empty we took it in turns to row. All I can say without any hesitation is that I wont be rowing the Atlantic. God it was horrendous, my arms ached, my legs ached I think everything ached. We managed to get a fair way out then both tiring we decided to head back home to the boathouse at the end of the beach and to the shallow water. Easier said than done so with the tide pushing us onto the beachwe managed to get out and wade in the water but we were a great distance away so we emptied the boat of all the water which weighed a ton and hauled it back to the boathouse where we  and the boat were showered down with freezing cold water to get rid of all the salt and sand  and put everything away  and made my way home for a well deserved rest and a warm cup of tea..............................

17 February 2006 ------ What a week of ups and downs. Was really looking forward to the helicopter exercise then last Friday night had a phone call to say that it was cancelled. Disappointed yeh but these things happen then on Saturday got another call to say that all was go for a launch at eleven on Sunday...great.......Come Sunday I was picked first as I was the only one of the crew present who hadn't been lifted. Launched and heading south past Port-e-Vullen when Liverpool Coastguard radioed us to say that the helicopter wouldn't after all be available. So as the whole thing wouldn't be a total waste of time and effort we carried on to Laxey Bay where we met up with the Douglas Lifeboat and carried out towing exercises which I wasn't that good at as I'd never done them before so I'm afraid I messed up a little. Never mind, that's what the exercises are all about so at last nights training me and another chap went through the correct procedure of a side tow and I think that maybe the next time we do it for real I'll be OK. We also practiced the correct way to set off our personal flares which are attached to our life jackets. These are a two ended flare, one for night the other day. So as you don't get them confused the night flare cap has a pattern on the end where the day one is just flat and plain. First you unscrew the cap and then you are left with a ring similar to those on the new bean tins. At arms length you then just pull the ring. The night flare is a very bright orange /red light which will still burn in water whilst the day flare is an orange smoke. Another lesson learned but still a long way to go.....................................................................

05 February 2006 ------ I missed the last exercise as I was helping P with his move back across so I was chosen first by the coxswain for todays exercise out on the boat. As always I was a bundle of nerves to begin with. I don't know why as I know the launch routine off by heart now but I still have butterflies in my stomach just in case I do it wrong. I needn't have worried as the launch went well and we were soon heading out to Maughold head on a very calm sea. It was then the fun started, well that's if you can call it fun. The second coxswain (who is a well built chap) had put on a dry suit and jumped overboard and made his way to boulder strew beach were he took residence up in a cave. The scenario was that he had fallen down the cliff injuring himself in the process and we had to rescue him. OK, first we got the X boat (inflatable dinghy) out of the survivors cabin where it's kept along with the stretcher. Once the X boat was inflated by foot pump it was put over the side ready for both D and myself to get in. Once we were in the stretcher was handed to us and I rowed the 100 meteres or so to the shore. This was a lot more difficult than it sounds as the wind and tide were blowing us away from our target. This meant that when we finaly reached shore we were a bit out off course so had to get out of the boat and walk pushing it over the very slippy boulders. The water was deeper than we at first thought so we were both soaked as the very cold sea water soon filled up our boots. Once on the little beach we secured the dinghy then carrying the stretcher scurried over more seaweed covered rocks to find the injured victim some 50 metres from where the dinghy was. Broken legs unable to walk we had to secure him in the stretcher and carry him back to the dinghy. Well that was the theory in reality we started off real good, though I must admit I was struggling slightly from the start to carry him as he's a pretty large bloke as I mentioned before. Anyway I slipped heavily on the seaweed and dropped the stretcher, from then on D pulled while I at times helped push until we were back on the beach where I waded into the water at the front of the dinghy and then lifted the stretcher in so that the head was leaning on the main chamber and the fet on the bottom on the boat. This didn't leave a great deal for either d or myself so I perched myself right on the front edge just as D perched himself at the stern and he rowed back to the Lifeboat. We tied up to the Lifeboat which had got the scramble net out ready then we had to think of a way to get the casualty on board. This is when the real good fun started........Our dinghy was secured at D's end and I was holding on to the scramble net at mine. We needed to get the casualty and stretcher up on the deck of the Lifeboat head first (my end). I suppose the distance from the water line to the deck is no more than three feet but what a bloody job. D had by this time been able to stand up and straddle the casualty with both legs on each side of the chambers. I tried to do the same but my end wasn't tied to the Lifeboat so as I stood up and tried to straddle the casualty I strted moving away from the Lifeboat and losing my balnce. Quickly I managed to grab the scramble net but in doing so ended up kneeling down, knees apart with my crutch in the second coxswains face and my face in his crutch. All the rest of the crew were besides themselves with laughter and so the coxswain rightfully said to me get on board here and we'll try another way. With me safely on board we managed to pull the casualty up onto the deck making a rather undignified rescue. Other tasks followed which we managed to do, well I managed to do without any further mishap nor embarrassment and we finaly got back into the boathouse at around noon........A brilliant day had...can't wait for next week as it's the helicopter exercise.................................................

15 January 2006 ------ For the years second exercise I was on the shore, not surprising really as I'd been lucky enough to be out on probably the last six or seven times that we've launched so you've got to give the others a chance. Like the previous time the boat was launched the weather was horrendous with a raging sea and very strong winds. As would be the case in these conditions the tide was against us as we had to recover right on high tide which of course meant a prom jobby. Oh well it can't all be plain sailing can it....................

05 January 2006 ------ The first exercise of the new year and I was lucky to be chosen to go out on the boat. The weather and conditions were the worst that I'd encountered since being on the crew and I came back tired out. We performed a number of tasks which included setting the anchor and drogue as well as steering a search pattern and keeping a look out with the spotlights. All sounds very easy now that I've written it down but I can assure you it wasn't. Something as simple as keeping the spotlight in a correct pattern is made so much more difficult when the boat is lurching from one wave to the other and you are getting covered in sea spray even though the lights are at the stern of the boat. Also trying to keep a correct course and change at a seconds notice isn't such a simple task but I was able to manage it and felt very good at the end of it all. Tide was well out when we came back so a beach recovery was welcomed and everything was back ready for the next time just after 21:00 when it was then time to go home for a warm shower.....

17 December 2005 ------ A very early start with the crew having to be down the boathouse for 06:00 to prepare for the launch at 06:30 for the passage to Conwy marina on the relief boat The Royal Shipwright so that we can pick our own boat back up after repair and bring her back to the island. Weather could have been kinder to us as there was quite a swell with the sea being a bit choppy at times especially when I was on the helm and the  direction of the tide took us of course and I found it at first difficult to keep a reasonable straight line. This being my second passage I had had chance to steer the boat before for a long period of time but never in conditions like this. However I soon got the hang of it and rather enjoyed the experience. The sunrise was fantastic and it wasn't long before we had glorious sunshine, though it was still bitterly cold when we popped out on deck which we did to get a better view of two rather large dolphins that appeared on our port side and accompanied us for a short time while jumping out of the water. Within what seemed no time at all we had reached the marker buoy at the entrance to Conwy marina which heralded the start of the difficult last half an hour of the trip. It is made difficult because there is only a very narrow channel that has the required depth and this isn't in a straight line. In fact it zig zags. It is all marked out by different coloured bouys which you have to follow in a particular order. All the information you need about any harbour or marina in the British Isles and other places you get from Reeds Nautical Almanac. It shows you buoy positions etc along with water depth and any other information that's relevant for the safe  passage into where you are going. Anyway we were soon berthed safely on the pontoon at 11:00 where the coxswain had to go and get the keys and information about where our boat was moored. This done and our boat now alongside we then had to transfer all the personal Ramsey stuff back onto our boat before moving the relief boat back to the berth vacated by ours earlier. Once done we then had a meal before getting back on board ready for the return journey and we left the marina just before 13:30 ensuring that there was enough water  so that we could clear the flap gate in safety. Wasn't looking forward to the journey back as the sea at the start seemed to be a lot rougher than when we came in earlier and the boat was certainly moving about this time instead of side to side as it was on the outward journey. Now it was up and down just like a big dipper. Did some chart work as well as having a brief look at the radar system system then I was aked to take over the steering again which I did and which was a lot easier this time as the tide was now in a different direction. Soon it was dark and my only way of steering the boat in the right direction apart from the compass etc was by the distant but nearing lighthouses of both Maughold Head and that of The Point of Ayre. This was my first time steering at night and I was very pleased to bring her safely into the safety of Ramsey Bay before the coxswain took over control for a beaching before a beach recovery. After all was tidied up and re-fueled for the next time it wasn't until 18:30 that I sat down at home for my tea and I thought I wqs still moving up and down. Still I can put up with that as I've had such a fantastic day. certainly beats Christamas shopping.........
12 December 2005 ------ Date of exercise changed to accomodate taking santa to visit the children of Laxey. This is a bi-annual event and was my first time since joining the RNLI that I would be involved in it. Luckily my name was picked out and the sea was like a millpond for both the journey there and back. Laxey is the southern most part of our area, as anything south of this is covered by Douglas Lifeboat and it was good to get the feel of entering another harbour and get my first practice at berthing the boat. Though I'd seen it done before and carried out the process in a classroom environment as well as doing it dry in the boathouse it is always different and more difficult doing it for real. Once berthed in Laxey the crew were invited for a warm bowl of delicious home made soup at the local yacht club before returning to Ramsey for a difficult prom recovery.........................

08 December  2005 ------ Wasn't feeling good about going out on the boat this evening after the news at work yesterday but as seeing that it was an inspectors exercise I went out and I really enjoyed it. Weather wasn't that bad for the time of year and the coxswain had us doing most of the deckwork which included for the first time for me checking that the propellers hadn't been snagged on anything. This requires going down a ladder into a very small space at the stern of the boat and undoing a number of catches and removing a cylinder which is in a larger cylinder which is situated right over the props. Very claustriphobic and warm indeed I can tell you. As well as that we deployed the drouge, used the emergency steering and set the anchor. All in all a very busy night.................................

01 December 2005 ------ Spent most of this evenings time down the boathouse going over the relief boat the Royal Shipwright which arrived on station yesterday as ours is away having a fault on the engine / gearbox repaired. Though it is the same class of boat, a Mersey some things were in different lockers so it's best to familiarise ourselves with the layout just in case we get a shout.............................

24 November 2005 ------ I declined to go out on the boat for tonights exercise as the pain in my right hand is getting worse and at times I can't grip at all so going out on the boat and pulling ropes etc would only aggrivate it so I stayed on the shore helping with the launch and recovery. Weather was atrocious with very strong winds and a raging sea which made for a difficult recovery. If we weren't getting wet from the spray being blown off the top of the waves we were being shotblasted by the sand that was being whipped up from the beach. In fact at times it looked like something you would expect to see in a desert....................

10 November 2005 ------ Been a while since I was out on the boat on exercise as the last one I worked as shore crew which made a welcome change. Tonight however I was on the boat and this is the first time since being on the crew proper that I've gone out at night which made it that much different with some of the tasks that we had to perform. First of all we attempted the anchor and yet again I messed up but the good thing about it is that I now know where I've been going wrong and hopefully I wont do the same again. The next task we had to complete was even more difficult than the anchor. The scenario was that we had been called out to do a search for a striken vessel but on the way we lost all steering. This meant that we had to rig the emergency steering and steer a search sector. This is I can assure you a lot easier said than done. The emergency steering is done using a couple of pulleys with two crew pulling the ropes on each side of the boat which in turn pull the rudder. Started off a bit unsteady as even though I had done this task previousley it was always in the day where when given a bearing to steer  I could pick out a point and head for that. Not so easy in pitch black darkness so  it was suggested that we change where we were standing and move up the step to the helm position where we could see the compas as well as the rudder angle dial. Though more difficult to pull the rope as the angle was more acute we managed to keep a perfect line and after numerous course alterations were only a matter of feet away from the object when that part of the exercise had ended. It was then back into Ramsey where we entered the harbour where some of the crew practiced their boat manouverability and where three of us jumped off to walk to the boathouse to aid the shore crew on recovering the boat when it came around from the harbour. Thank God it was a beach recovery as we were very short of men and everything was back to normal and ready for anything by 21:15........................

25 October 2005 ------ Didn't know a thing at all about todays shout as I was at work in Douglas when the call came at around 16:30 and the pagers don't work that far away. Liverpool coastguard requested that we assist a broken down yacht once again in difficulty north of the Point of Ayre.  Located striken vessel and towed yacht and crew of two along with another dog back safely in Ramsey harbour...

23 October 2005 ------ I know a 09:30 start isn't that early but it certainly seems it this Sunday as I could so have easily turned over back to sleep instead of getting up and making my way down to the boathouse. I'm glad I did as we had a great exercise out on the boat and I felt I learned a great deal.  Not that we did a great deal as for the first half hour or so I looked on as a bystander to the chap who was manning the radar which I found very interesting though at times very confusing. The reason for this confusion is that on the radar screen you can have it set in different views. One of these is a view as you travel and another is North set, where north is always at the top of the screen (this is how they like you to view it) Sounds Ok but when you are travelling south as we were then it becomes that much more difficult to relate to what you are seeing as everything has to be reversed. After this I was then asked by the coxswain to take over the helm which I did for the majority of the time we were out, taking the boat to just beyond Bulghan Rocks then returning home to have a beach recovery then getting home just before 13:00 ready for dinner...........

20 October 2005 ------ Seems a while since I've been down to the boathouse for some training but it's only just been over a week. Tonight went real well as I was doing something I'd never done before and that was learnig the correct procedure for the use of the radio as well as updating all th echarts and books regarding my training. Feel as if I'm now getting somewhere, hiope it continues like this................

10 October 2005 ------ What a fantastic time I've had completing the sea survival course at Fleetwood Nautical College, to say it was brilliant is an understatement. I'm probably going to bore you stupid but I just have to go through the whole lot as it was, as I said a great experience.......Started off last Thursday with a flight from the island to Blackpool. This in itself was an experience as it was taken on an eight seater plane where I was sitting right behind the pilot and could see everything that was happening.........
 ..................A taxi ride to Fleetwood brought us to our hotel for the next three days; the North Euston which was a fantastic place to stay. After meeting up with all the others on the course we spent the rest of the evening / night drinking.............................oops.
 .............Up early for a full day in the classroom learning the rudiments of emergency first aid and CPR, though boring at times I learned a great deal. School finished for the day it was then back to the hotel for a few hours sleep, a quick shower and change of clothes followed by a rather bumby journey on the tram into Blackpool for the evening...................
.........Saturday morning meant a three hour stint in the pool learning different things including throwing and retrieving coits as well as the right way to right an upside down liferaft as well as getting into one (a lot easier said than done I can tell you). This was followed by an afternoon firefighting which in turn was followed by the lot of us in the bar watching the England versus Austria football match on the TV after which we then went out to sample the delights of Fleetwood knowing that we had to get up for an early start (08:00) at the college.............
............So now it was Sunday...the day of reckoning. This was where we had to put into practice all that we had learned over the previous days. Well not all the previous days as we still had a great bit to learn. Day started off with various videos etc in the classroom before we had lunch and then into the pool again this time wearing full 'Musto' gear. (What we wear on the boat minus lifejacket and helmet but wearing a floatation lifejacket). The first thing we had to do was to jump off a three metre board into the pool followed by different exercises which included righting a twelve man liferaft (the previous days was only an eight man craft) and then attempting to get into it. At my third attempt I finaly managed to get myself into the liferaft but I was knackered. I couldn't recall ever being so exhausted and tired. After we had all completed this it was back in the pool to experience a simulated  helicopter lift. This finished we were asked to go and wait in the changing room for the next part which we would be marked on. The scenario being that we were on a ship that had caught fire. Suddenly the alarms and klaxons started to go off and the whole place was put into darkness. We then had to assemble in the muster area upstairs and put on the lifejackets that we normaly wear on the boat along with our helmets and await further instructions. By now the wind and smoke had been switched on as well as the freezing cold rain. Then came the announcement ABANDON SHIP. This meant we then had to jump back into the pool from the three metre board once in the water our jackets should automatically inflate....(mine didn't) which made me panic slightly but I knew the drill and inftated the left chamber by pulling the toggle. We then had to make our way to the left of the pool and meet up with all the others and link together ensuring all the crew were there. We then split into three groups of four, linked ourselves together and mad our way to the other end of the pool where the liferaft was waiting. It seemed to take an age before we got there and started with getting the bigger lads up and into the liferaft. With us hanging on to the side we took it in turns to help push the next person into the raft. This was extremely exhausting work but once in that person then helped to pull those of us remaining in the water into the liferaft. I went in at about number eight and thought that I wouldn't be able to do it I was so tired. Then I found myself face down in the liferaft in a pool of water with the crew member who came in after me on top of me stopping me from moving. It was only for a few seconds but I thought I was stuck and was starting to choke when I managed to free myself and move to the side of the raft. With all crew on board after having a head count we then had a number of different tasks to perform before we were allowed out and into the showers to change. Wow...... I can tell you we were all feeling knackered and elated all at the same time. What an experience. I just hope that I never have to use any of my newly learned skills but if I have to I am well prepared to meet them head on ..............................
03 October 2005 ------ Not long been out of the shower and starting to relax a bit. Well relax isn't quite the right word as I was helping SD2 with her science homework all about Mr Allesandro Volta when my pager goes off. Launch ALB. Jump into the car and get to the boathouse to find that there is another small yacht in difficulty again off the north of the island. Also by the time I arrived the crew were aboard and after helping them get things ready the boat was launched just after 21:30. It took around an hour to reach the casualty where a tow was requested so we towed her back into Ramsey harbour and were all back in the boathouse ready for the next shout just before midnight another job well done................

12 September 2005 ------ Just wish that the inspectors had come on the last exercise as my performance tonight wasn't that good I'm afraid. I seem to have made a hash at all I attempted even though I'd completed these without error the last time we were at sea. All I can put it down to is that I hate being watched by people and go to pot when things don't quite go to plan. Not that what I did would have caused any problems it's just that there is a better and more correct way at doing things.....back to the drawing board I think. Roll on next month when I'm off to Fleetwood to carry out my seas survival course, I can't wait...................

01 September 2005 ------ Been a bit of a while due to differing circumstancs since we've had a full exercise out on the boat but we had one tonight and it went excellent. A while back there was a fire (started deliberately by some local lads) on the end of the Iron Pier. It was extinguished by the local fire brigade but this meant them driving their appliances over a structure that has been deemed unsafe. We wondered at the time why we hadn't been asked to attend the fire and so had a practice to see if we could in fact reach the top of the pier from the sea. When we launched it was low tide, perfect for our attempt. first we used the boats main fire fighting pump which is part of the bildge system and this just about had enough pressure to reach the topmost part of the structure. Secondly we then took out the salvage pump and set that up and again the pressure was enough to reach to top so all in all we proved that if the local lads want to start a fire again we could be called out to assist even at low tide. Once finished here we then headed out towards Maughold Head and were happily surprised to go through a school of porpoises. I've never seen these in the wild before and was amazed at their agility.....What a fantastic way to spend an evening.......from then on the exercise went better and better completing the anchor, the emergency steering and the drouge all without misshap. I must say I felt real good at the end of it, the only thing that spoiled it was that it was a prom recovery but you can't have it all ways can you......................................

21 August 2005 ------ Sorry to say things haven't gone as planned for today. During the regular maintanence of the boat the mechanic found a fault with one of the gear boxes which needs parts bringing from across so we have been put on restricted service until the problem has been rectified and todays practice has been cancelled. However we still managed to launch the boat and bring her into the harbour for the annual blessing where a small crowd had gathered for the service.................................
06 August 2005 ------ Lifeboat Day and a very busy day at that....Started off rather early with me getting down to the boathouse at around 09:30 to help get all the stalls into position. With this done along with decorating the boat and tractor in bunting it wasn't long before the whole thing kicked off with  a large amount of the crew walking around the roads of Ramsey, dinghy in tow, along with rattling boxes  collecting money fro this worthwhile cause. With that completed it was back to the front where all the action was taking place.....I got soaked at the throw a wet sponge at the crew stall and managed to spend loads of money trying to win a knitted doll of myself to no avail (I pity the person who wins it). All of the family helped in some way or other and were rewarded this year with the chance of having a trip out on the Lifeboat. Both G and SD1 turned down this great chance but SD2 along wioth the mother-in-law jumped at the chance and it wasn't long until they were steaming out of the harbour for a quick trip around Ramsey bay. They both enjoyed it very much indeed, just glad to say that the sea was like a millpond and that no sea sickness tablets were required. As is the norm the whole day was finished off with the annual sand racing competition which again proved very popular and competetive with a good number of competitors along with a very good crowd......A great day.......
25 to 28 July 2005 ------ What a very busy week for training. Every night this week, up until Thursday that is we are doing a seamanship course which has proved to be excellent. Starting off with the basic knots, the instructor has shown us the proper and safe way to carry out most of the deck handling stuff that we will need to know to perform out our tasks safely in times of need. This included berthing, anchoring, tying to a bouy as well as the correct way to tie a fender along with towing and what you would do in an emergency if the tow went wrong....and that is to cut the rope with a knife close to the bits....something which I didn't know. So all in all a very productive week. The only downside being that we were hoping to go out to sea on Thursday but because of the weather this was cancelled and instead we had more classroom work which though informative wasn't the same as going to sea......What a shame as we were all looking forward to the chance of showing off our new skills...well I was.... but then when we were going over things in the boathouse on the boat I was simulating a tow and I got the ropes upside down. Typical of me to do it wrong in full view of everyone  but heh at least I now know the right way to it....Well let's hope I do.............................

24 July 2005 ------ Big exercise today which involved the boat being out all day. Unfortunately I couldn't do all day only managing the morning trip which was excellent. The remit was to co-ordinate with the local coastguards in a rescue in thick fog. To simulate the fog before we left the boathouse we covered up all the windows so we couldn't see out from the wheelhouse. Once launched we were all sent down into the wheelhouse by the cox'n and told to navigate to a place off Maughold Head (by charts only no vision) where we would then contact the local coastguard. This was all new to me so I just stood and watched all that was happening. The navigator who was R gave instructions to D who was steering whilst both the first (M) and second (S) coxswains monitored all that was going on from the helm position. Within no time at all we were in the correct position to attempt the rescue. This entailed getting out the Lifeboat's dinghy, inflating it by using the foot pump - why in this day and age they don't have an electric pump or for that matter a self inflating dinghy I don't know as by the time it was fully inflated I was knackered- and then getting two crew aboard in dry suits to row over to where the casualty was. There had been an accident involving a climber and so the local coastguard had to abseil down the cliff to rescue this "person" and because of the difficulties we had to then collect this "person" and take back to shore. The two crew, R and D rowed out to meet the casualty and were soon returning with the "person" strapped to a stretcher to the Lifeboat. When they were by the side of us we then had to bring the "person" aboard. This we did  and then on asking what were the symptoms  with the casualty so first aid could be administered we were told that she was in the process of giving birth to twins and that we had to be quick.........An unlikely scenario I must admit and one which we thought at the time to be highly amusing but then you never know what you will find ....do you?....At least we had performed the task by getting the "person" safely on board the Lifeboat for transfer to shore.....The casualty safely on board we then made our way back to the boathouse once again in thick fog where I was shown briefly how the radar system worked on the boat, where we berthed in the harbour ready for the next session in the afternoon................

14 July 2005 ------ Haven't had a great deal to report on the lifeboat front as of late as there hasn't been any launches even practice ones until this evening. That's not to say I haven't been doing a great deal as I have, though going on tonights performance when I was lucky to go out on the boat a lot more training is needed. Not that I did anything major wrong it was just that I thought I could have performed better than I did. What the problem is that I find there is a massive difference in doing the tasks in the boathouse and then coming to do them for real when you are out on the boat. When we left the beach the sea was as calm as a mill pond and the sun was blazing in the sky, a perfect night in any ones opinion. The tasks for this evenings practice were all deck work so as soon as we were on a heading for the Point of Ayre the coxswain requested the first exercise. We were to do the emergency steering. Not a problem. I knew where all the equipment was stowed and what the correct procedure was. The only problem was that I was now on the starboard side of the boat where as in all previous times I had carried out this exercise I was on the port side where things are slightly different. Panic over, with one very small error where I put the metal loop over the first post instead of the second post and around the back of the first, both I and D were now in control of the steering. This is I can tell you is a lot easier said than done. We are controlling the rudder by means of a rope and pulley system with one person on the port side pulling and another on the starboard side pulling. I was the sighter, the person who gave the instructions which are a simple; to me, to you order in whichever direction I wanted the boat to go in. After the initial zigzag we were on a good course until the coxswain came to the stern of the boat, untied one of the fenders and then threw it overboard to simulate a man overboard condition. Instantly my opposite crew member on the other rope on hearing the shout and the alarm and noticing where the body was situated in the water pointed out where it was and shouted to me to alter course. This I did straight away and performed a 180 degree turn and soon the casualty (being the the fender) was now in sight on the starboard side. Whilst this manoeuvre was taking place two other crew members had, on the shout of man overboard come out on deck from the wheelhouse and picked up the boat hook in readiness to make the rescue. We had directed the boat perfectly and the casualty was soon aboard safely. Resume previous heading was the next command so we turned the boat back on to a course for the Point and continued on our way until ordered to stow away all the equipment and to put the steering back to normal. Immediately this was over and I was pulling myself up out of the bowels of the stern of the boat the fire alarm was sounded and we were ordered to close all air vents. Again a very simple task only I forgot to close one (pratt springs to mind). I know where they all are and the correct procedure on how to open and close them except I missed one out. Thank God it was only a practice, at least next time I wont make the same mistake. Fire now out the next order came to set the anchor which I had gone over many times before and no problems were encountered. The fact that it didn't set wasn't our fault even after we had gone out past the third mark. The problem was that we had encountered kelp beds as was found out when we retrieved the anchor and it came up covered in seaweed as well as loads of jelly fish tendrils. Anchor now recovered we only had time to get back to base for a beach recovery before it was time for a crew meeting then for me off for an early night as I've work in the morning. What a way to spend an evening....just fantastic. You know what? I think myself very lucky that I have the chance to do something like this as the enjoyment I get from it and the fulfilment is well, well it's as good as chocolate!!!!!..............................

03 July 2005 ------ Practice exercise cancelled today as we are to attend the Maritime Choir Service in Ramsey Market Place at 11:00. Arrived at the boathouse early to get the boat in position. I at first thought that we were going to launch and then get the boat into the harbour and that's where the service was going to take place. No, the whole service was to take place in the square it self which meant that we had to take the boat by road. A lot easier said than done as it being a Sunday and the boathouse being right next door to the Catholic Church there is always going to be a large number of parked cars. Getting to the square wasn't too bad as eleven o'clock mass hadn't started however getting back to the boathouse after the hymn service was a different proposition. By this time there were many more parked cars (some even on double yellows) and adding to all of this it just happened to be the day that the children were taking their First Holy Communion so there were a lot more cars than normal. managed to negotiate the first couple of bends directly from the sguare as well as the main one right by the church. It was then that we got into difficulties and this being on the straight we thought that we'd got past the worst of it but we were quite wrong. Cars in this area park at ninety degrees to the pavement so some were jutting out more than others. How A, the tractor driver managed it I don't know but with a lot of directions and shouting from the rest of the crew he managed to thread the tractor and boat throught he eye of a needle so to speak with only millimetres to spare. Then it was an easy task to drive onto the beach and then back into the boathouse ready for the next call......Give me a beach recovery any day of the week........................
12 June 2005 ------ As I'd hoped I was on the boat for todays exercise. We left Ramsey just after 09:30 and headed south past Port-e-Vullen and then on to Maughold Head. Went past here slowly as there were a number of seals, probably more than thirty either swimming or basking on the rocks. It was great to see them this close up and to see how inquisitive of us they are. Heading further south, we noticed as we passed Port Moar that the local coastguard were out along the beach and rocks and it seemed they were searching for something. We then carried on still going south and passed through a colony of guilemots as well as the normal gulls, shags, oyster catchers and cormorants. We were soon at Bulghan Bay and I was facinated by the rock formations as I'd never seen them from the sea this close up before. Heading back north towards Ramsey we then had to get out the salvage pump and get it up and running. The pump is the size of a medium generator and is kept in the survivors cabin in the bow of the boat. It is hauled up from down below by the use of two ropes. Once in position lashed to the rails on the port side front it was then started up. We did have a few problems at first as even though the engine was going the pump need priming with water before it starts to pump. This is done by fitting a long hose (the intake) to the pump in valve and putting the other end which has a one way valve into the sea. Shake it up and down and in theory the water should rise into the reservoir and prime the pump only it wasn't cooperating today so we had to resort to getting a bucket on a rope filled with water and priming the pump with that. As soon as it was primed the pump started doing its job only the outlet was pointing in my direction and I got soaked. At least we got it up and running so we ran it for around five minutes ensuring everything was in working order. Once turned off we tidied up and secured everything before heading back home. We were just passing Port Moar again and noticed that the coastguard were still searching for something. Radio contact was made and we were informed that they were searching for the bodies of two sailors that went missing from the Royal Navy Auxiliary ship Orangleaf last week whilst anchored in Douglas Bay. When the incident first happened both Douglas and Port St Mary Lifeboats were called out to do a search but found nothing. We had a quick skeet and all the way back to port I kept a lookout for anything unusual but didn't see anything untoward. Got back to shore just after 11:00 and were lucky to have a beach recovery boat back on station no more to do I was home just after noon.........................

08 June 2005 ------ Managed to get down to the boathouse for 01:30 to prepare for the recovery of the boat which was due in at around 02:00. If everything had gone to plan she would have been back yesterday evening but there were a number of problems. Our crew arrived in Conwy on time after having a great passage across the Irish Sea only to find that our boat hadn't yet arrived at the marina. It was being transported by road from Appledore and had got held up. The one worry was that if it didn't arrive soon they would miss the tides. They didn't have to wait too long, our boat arrived and was soon in the water and all the checks were being carried out with just enough time to catch the tide then they hit a major snag. The boat couldn't be propelled correctly as the boatyard had put the propellers on the wrong side (the Mersey is a twin prop design in protected tunnels). As luck would have it a lot of the Conwy lifeboat crew were working in the marina and they arranged for the local boatyard to change over the props. Obviously this meant missing the tide and having to wait until 21:30 before they were able to leave the marina and head back home. It was just after 02:00 when she arrived on Ramsey beach but the weather and sea conditions were kind to us being mild and calm though it was a high tide and a prom recovery was made more difficult with parked cars. Managed to get it in the boathouse, re-fueled and ready for the next job and drove home and into bed by 03:15 knackered.....................................
07 June 2005 ------ The relief boat, Margaret Jean that we have on station at present was launced around 07:30 for the trip to Conwy marina so we could swap back to our own boat the Ann & James Ritchie which is waiting in the marina after having had all the repairs carried out.  We were told that it would be returning for recovery at around 19:30 this evening but after getting in there was a message on my answerphone off the coxswain  saying that there had been a delay and that it was going to be around 01:30 tomorrow morning if all went to plan when the boat would be coming back to Ramsey and that we would be alerted by our pagers going off so don't be too excited...............................
06 June 2005 ------ Driving back from Douglas and passed a bad looking car accident at Bulghan Rocks with a car on it's roof not far from the cliff edge. Nearing Ramsey I noticed the coastguard going towards where the accident happened and then descending the hill into Ramsey I saw the lifeboat being launched. Made my way to the boathouse and changed into my gear ready for a recovery. After about half an hor of being out the boat was stood down as the ocupants of the crashed car were safe and in no danger of falling over the edge and needing rescuing by the lifeboat. Soon returned and after a beach recovery everything was made ready for the passage back to Conwy as our boat has had all the work carried out on ot and is waiting to be collected in Conwy marina. A crew is going over early in the morning on the Margaret Jean and coming back at around 19:30 with the Ann & James Ritchie. Exhausted I drive home welcoming my tea and a nice warm shower...........

29 May 2005 ------ No training today as we are on parade at the 60th anniversary of the battle of The Atlantic. Luckily the weather reamained nice and sunny. After the service we just had time for a quick cuppa and a chat about different things before we all headed back home...........................

27 May 2005 ------ Pretty much the same time as the last alarm. Just got back in the house after having a great meal out with D & A at Arriba when the pager goes off alerting us to launch ALB. Time is about 23:45 when I get down to the boathouse to hear that a fishing vessell is in trouble about 12 miles off the north east coast of the island. Start preparing the boat for launch and everything ready and checked tractor engine started up and a full crew on board, just started to move out of the boathouse when a call comes in from Liverpool ciastguard for us to stand down. Apparently the striken boat had given the wrong co-ordinates and when the correct ones were given it was found that the Workington boat would get there quicker so that was launched. Everything put away and all the goodnights said it was home to bed..................

22 May 2005 ------ Bet you couldn't click on the link fast enough. Sorry to have to disapoint you but it wasn't a real shout but it certainly was a real rescue. We had an exercise anyway today and just as I was in the kit room getting ready the 2nd coxswain who was taking todays exercise said that a couple of the crew were to get into dry suits as we needed to get the dinghy out as we were going to the rescue of two sheep who had fallen down the cliffs just near Maughold Head and couldn't get back up. By the time we'd inflated the dinghy the sheep had been spotted so three of the crew got into the dinghy and rowed to the shore where the two crew in drysuits, D & N got out to round up the sheep with ropes and R stayed in the dinghy. Well what happened next looked so funny from our position on the boat. Each time either D or N got any where near a sheep it ran in the opposite direction until one made a silly mistake and was cornered. With only one way out past D the sheep made a run for it but D rugby tackled it and brought it down and struggled with it until N came with the rope and tied it's legs together. Hauled into the dinghy they rowed back to us on the lifeboat where we towed them down the coast to a small beach where the land behind was sloping and not sheer cliffs where the dazed sheep was liberated. this was repeated again for the second sheep by the end of which the crew were covered in mud and sheep shit. By this time the exersise was near to it's end so we went back to Ramsey and had a prom recovery and cleaned all the kit ready for anything......................

19 May 2005 ------ Spent all of tonights training in the engine room. Not that I'm thinking of challenging the mechanics, I'm not it's just that we have to know various aspects of different systems and what we would have to do if for some reason there was a problem with either engine. It's also in here where the bilge pump system is controlled by the opening or closing of various valves.................................

12 May 2005 ------ What a day I've had at the boathouse. Started off in the afternoon when I went down to be assesed by inspectors on various things that I've been taught over the last few months. To say I was nervous would be an under statetment. I was shaking. Why? I don't really know, but at the present time with all that is happening I suppose I am lacking in confidence, though saying that I was never full of much to begin with. However it went better than I could have hoped for. The inspector was great and put me at my ease from the very start explaining what he wanted me to tell him and what we needed to achieve at the end of it. It took quite a while but I had to show him around the boat and tell him where everything was and what pieces of equipment were used for whatever purpose etc, etc. Then it was on to cordage and knots, having to explain what type of cord / rope is used for what purpose along with the differences as well as how these should be tied together. All in all I came away satisfied at how I'd performed and the most important thing was that the inspector thought the same. A sigh of relief for a short time anyway as the big exersise is tonight on the boat and I'm not feeling that confident at all.
Got down to the boathouse early and was the second to be chosen to go out....This is it, this is the real big test that I've had to do and to be honest I'm glad I went to the toilet before I left home. I was shaking like a leaf. The boat was heaving, as along with me, others on the crew had to be signed off as well on other tasks, so there wasn't a great deal of room. Fully kitted up and on the way to launch one of the inspectors called me over and asked me to explain what was about to happen and what procedures need to be followed both on the boat and on the shore for a successful launch. By the time I'd explained all of this we were well on our way out to sea and the coxswain gave his first orders. I along with another member of the crew had to get out the dinghy. This is kept in the survivors cabin at the bow of the boat. Dinghy out and starting to inflate when I was instructed to then put the anchor out with he help of another crew mate. Not one of my favourite tasks as things have changed since I've been learning (including the anchors themselves) and at times I get rather confused. After a minor problem where I didn't hear the command, the anchor was thrown over the side and set. As soon as this was completed I was then ordered to get into the dinghy, by this time fully inflated along with another of the crew. This was my worst nightmare....I was going to go over the edge and instead of sitting in the dinghy I was going to end up in the sea with everyone laughing at me. That never happened but I ended up in the dinghy in an uncomfortable position. The other crew member, who I will call D was rowing. The purpose of the exercise was we were attempting to do a breechers boy recovery. D had to row out to a bouy where we attached the lines. We were then hauled back to the lifeboat which during gave us a few minutes of relaxation. Once back at the boat we were instructed to change places so I was now rowing the dinghy. I had to row out about 50 meteres then return. Oh my GOD was my first thought as I haven't rowed a boat since I was young and that was on a lake in Cannon Hill park in Brum and not on the open sea. Granted it was calm but what the heck. I just couldn't get it right. I new all were looking at me from the boat and things went from bad to worse. I was making no headway at all then D said 'Don't worry about them lot your'e doing OK' With his confidence I then managed to get moving, turn the boat around and return to the lifeboat where we got out and another pair of the crew jumped in and performed the same task.
No rest for the wicked, so within minutes we were instructed to do other tasks which included deploying the drouge along with the correct procedure how to set off the pyrotechnics that we have on board. I had previously set off a rocket line launcher but never any other flares. Here was my chance and after getting the mechanic to inform the coastguard that we were about to set of flares I got the chance to launch a white parachute flare. These are used to illuminate the search area at night. We also have on board red parachute flares along with red hand held flares but these can't be used even in practice as they are a sign of distress. After all of this it was time then to go back for recovery where before we could the instructor had me explain to him the full procedure. Luckily we had a beach recovery so it went well and didn't take us too long then it was off to the yacht club for a well deserved drink....the end of a perfect....well near perfect day..............

28 April 2005 ------ Brilliant exercise tonight as again I was lucky to be picked to go out on the boat. Though things didn't work out exactly how it was hoped a lot of things were learned. It was hoped that we would be learning the breechers boy for real. Two of the crew donned dry suits and these were who we had to rescue. We went out to the end of the old pier which has at the side a concrtete structure that is called the dolphin. Our two intrepid casualties then jumped overboard (with life jackets and helmets) into the sea which was very calm and made their way to the dolphin ready to be rescued. We in turn then went a short distance away to set the anchor so that we would be in a position to try out a manouvre to rescue the injured on the dolphin. This didn't quite work out right as we had some difficulty in getting the anchor to set. By the time we had it setting OK we hadn't time to do the breechers boy but did however have the time to position up the boat using the anchor rope and others attached at the stern to manouvere towards the dolphin and pick up the other crew mates. Successful rescue made we then made our way back to shore where a beach recovery was made. Boat back in position ready for any eventualities it was off to the yacht club a few yards away for a well earned drink. Club was a bit busier than normal as this Sunday sees the annual round the island yacht race which has the start and finish here at Ramsey so more people were present. A number of the lifeboat crew are attempting this race on their own yachts so all the talk was about this and where we think that they would finish and when. A week next Thursday was the main concensus bearing in mind that the first home will arrive about 12 or 13 hours after leaving Ramsey which will mean about 6 or 8 o'clock Sunday evening as the start is six in the morning. I've said that I will be the official photographer at the start and take some photos...whether I'm up at that time or not is a different matter. I hope to be as the wifes boss is also entering and will be on board his friends yacht and it would be nice to get some good photos. I might even follow them up to the Point of Ayre as I've been told that you can get some good pics from there. Just hope that none of them need our services...................
24 April 2005 ------ Spent most of todays session ensuring everything on the relief boat that we now have on station is in the correct place and is working correctly. This included taking out of the survivors cabin where it is stored the blow up dinghy, inflating it and leaving it inflated to ensure that it hasn't any leaks. We also checked the contents of both the first aid kits that are on board. Everything was found to be OK which wasn't surprising so we are well and truly ready for any situation....................................

23 April 2005 ------ The problem with nautical people is I think, that they have problems getting into difficulty at normal times as I'd just settled down to sleep when the pager goes off at 23:23.....after fumbling around in the dark trying to find where I'd left it, and then trying to find the right button to press  I finally succeeded to see LAUNCH ALB come up on the screen.  Throw clothes on quickly trying not to make too much noise and wake the daughters. Rush out of the door, jump in the car and am at the boathouse within minutes, though not as quick as some as there is a full crew getting on their kit ready to crew the boat. No time to spare I pull my kit on and check that all is OK on the shore along with the other crew who are on the shore helping out. It is just about high tide and tonights is very high lapping right at the top of the slipway. Did I say lapping ? well it certainly wasn't, CRASHING would be a more descriptive word to choose, and not just water. Among the waves was all the debris of trees that I had seen earlier in the day. I'd never seen it so bad and before we could let the tractor push the boat down the slipway into the sea we had to clear a number of items away these believe it or not included a fridge door. Slipway now clear, all crew on board then the tractor and boat trundle down to the waters edge where we do our stuff and then within seconds the command comes for launch. The tractor drives straight into the crashing waves until enough depth is achieved to float the boat, then reverses launching the boat into the heavy waves. All of us on the shore were amazed when the tractor and carriage came out of the sea as they were both absolutely covered in thick seaweed. So much weed in fact that it took six of us over an hour to clean it down. Those who have been on the station for over twenty years had never seen anything like it. After getting rid of most of it there was a pile of seaweed the length of the slipway  on each side at least two feet deep if not higher in places. Pity it's not the type of seaweed that you eat as we would have made a fortune. Cold by this time it was up to the crew room to see what was happening. A fishing vessel 'MFV MARIGOLD' had lost power to all her engines and was drifting about six miles north of the Point of Ayre. The position she was in would take us about one hour to reach her. We'd been out for about half an hour when the coastguard said that the crew had been able to restore power to all her engines and was now heading back to port on the Scottish mainland however, we were to carry on following just in case anything happened. All went well and the 'MARIGOLD' radioed Liverpool coastguard to say that she had arrived back in harbour so we were then stood down and returned to port arriving back at just after 02:00 with everything being completed and myself tucked back up in bed for 03:15 ready for the next shout...........................

21 April 2005 ------ After such a hectic time on Tuesday it was nice to come down here with things at a more leisurely pace. Spent most of the evening being shown quick ways to do knots and at long last I've been able to pick it up. Sounds silly I know but I've struggled for a bit doing certain ones and when I've tried doing them the quick way as most of the crew do them I was tying myself in knots. Anyway all is now OK after one of the crew took his time (in very slow motion), and showed me how they should be done. I now have a very large piece of rope which I practice with on the bannisters at the top of the stairs. I just wonder why the wife isn't speaking to me....................................

19 April 2005 ------ A very early start, up at 06:00 for a quick breakfast before the short drive to Conwy marina where the relief boat had been moored. She is the same boat that we had before Christmas; the Margaret Jean, when other repairs were carried out on our boat. By the time we had prepared her for the journey it was just after 08:00 when we finally got underway and left the marina with the sea thankfully, as still as a mill pond. It was great leaving a place that I'd never been to before noticing the way that we had to keep to certain channels because of the shallow depth in places. All our directions for the day had been prepared before hand by other crew members and all the information needed was available at hand, this included all maps and tide times along with a route that had already been loaded into the satellite navigation system. After spending a while up on the outer deck and getting rather cold I went below into the wheelhouse where I was shown briefly how to plot our course and to mark out on the chart where we were at specific times. I had seen it done previously and had some idea but had never done it by myself. After some short instruction showing me just the basics I was able to mark our position on the chart and also predict where we would be in say an hours time, it felt really good when after the next hour of travelling we weren't that far from my estimated position. Again a bit learned but still a hell of a long way to go, well we all have to start somewhere. Enjoying myself doing the plotting the coxswain then asked me to take over the helm and steer the boat on a heading of 350 degrees, this would be my first time steering the boat by this means and by now the sea had got a little bit choppy so it wasn't as easy as I was expecting. The compass at times seemed to have a mind of it's own varying a few degrees either side of the course I was attempting to take. The coxswain then gave me a hint to get it on course,  instead of looking at the compass all the time pick out a point ahead and steer to that. I was lucky as the island was now in sight, though well over an hour away at the speed we were travelling so I picked out Maughold lighthouse in the distance and kept in line with that. Don't think I did too bad a job as we were still on course when I was asked to hand it over to another of the crew. My arms were aching  when I sat down behind, I never realsed  how hard I must have been holding the wheel and how hard I must have been concentrating.....I felt exhausted yet still knew that we had to get into Ramsey  and swap the two boats over.  When we arrived in Ramsey the tide was well out and was still on the wane, some of the other crew were on board our boat which was still on it's carriage so it was driven out to meet us and all the kit was swapped over from one boat to the next. The carriaged boat was then taken back onto the beach where it was un-hooked then the tractor came and pulled us up onto the beach so we could then get off to help launch and prepare the other boat for it's trip to Appledore in north Devon. By the time the Margaret Jean was cleaned and re-fueled ready for the next time and our boat the Anne and James Ritchie was heading towards it's first port of call it was 15:00 and I was shattered. Back home for a quick shower and a short sleep when in no time it was back to the boathouse for an inspectors exercise................
......................Launch was at 18:30 so with all the crew on board along with the two inspectors it was off again for the second time today. This was to be my first time on board when inspectors were watching and giving us the instructions and I was rather nervous to say the least. It didn't help that before coming out when helping to cook the tea I burnt the thumb on my left had quite bad on very hot fat and have rather a large throbbing blister. Anyway we are all on the boat which is at the waters edge before launch and the inspector calls us to the stern and explains what he is going to be asking us to do; a very busy night indeed. My first task after launching was to go down into the wheelhouse and sit at the steering controls and wait for my next order. This soon came and it was that I now take control of the boat steering in a certain direction  at a given rate of revs. I had to do this until it was my turn to transfer control of the boat back to the helm position by verbal communication which has to be clear and precise. After a while another crew memer came to relieve me and take over my seat as I was asked to go to the helm position where I was then given instructions to once again take command of the controls and steer in another given direction and then again soon after to swap over controls this time to the wheelhouse. With this completed and me now away from the helm  myself and another crew member were asked to get out and use the emergency steering. After a few zig-zags we finally got the boat going on the right bearing and by the time we were asked to hand the steering over to another pair of the crew the inspector said that we'd in fact done a good job after starting off a bit erratic. This made me feel so much better and relaxed me a little. A slight breather then whilst others were tested after which we were then in the harbour and asked to secure the boat alongside the south wall where we were to pick up an extra crew member. Once on board he was being tested for his ability to control and manoeuvre the boat so it was off further into the harbour where we had to first get all the fenders out and then tie up the boat alongside another as if we were going to leave it for a period of 24 hours. Not as easy as it sounds as you have to take into account the tides and leave enough rope to ensure that the boat will be in a safe position at either high or low tide, here at Ramsey it can differ by about seven metres. I had never done this task before so I learned a lot about main ropes and spring ropes, I'm sure they'll make a boatman out of me yet. This task completed it was then out of the harbour to a berthing bouy which we had to hook up and put a tow line onto before another couple of the crew got out the salvage pump and started that up, again not an easy task as by this time there was quite a swell getting up. The night hadn't finished yet, it was nearing 21:00 when we then had to go back into the harbour to disembark about six of the crew, me included to help with the recovery of the boat. This entailed the helmsman driving up very close to the steps and us stepping over the rails and jumping onto the steps. As we were nearing the steps I had visions of myself missing my footing and ending up in the deep water stuck between the boat and the side of the harbour wall but on the fourth attempt we all managed to get off safely then a short walk to the boathouse to help with the recovery. By the time all this was done and I had driven home and sat down to watch some tele the ten o'clock news was just starting and I was feeling extremely tired but on a high knowing that I'd had the most fantastic 36 hours I'd had in a very long time....................................

18 April 2005 ------ Kept on un-packing and re-packing my bag checking that I hadn't forgotten anything, I hadn't. Arrived at the boathouse early and it was just after four when the last crew member arrived so we were a little late in leaving. After a drive to the airport and a quick flight to Liverpool we were soon on our way driving to Llandudno where we were staying for the night. Arrived at around 21:30 and then spent some time searching for a place to eat. Finally found a nice pub doing great food and had a great evening chatting and telling different stories, a fantastic day indeed..........................................

17 April 2005 ------ Spent a while today going through the SOPS procedure (standard operations) for the deployment of the drogue and Jason's Cradle. Again very worthwhile as it is underlining what I had already learned. Something I really need as It's tasks like these that need to become second nature to be able to perform right in an emergency situation. Think I'm getting there though there is still a long way to go. Got all the details for tomorrows trip; leaving the boathouse at 16:00...I can't wait............................

14 April 2005 ------ Arrive at the boathouse for training and sitting down chatting  when I was aked if I was doing anything next Monday/Tuesday. On replying 'not a lot' I was asked if I'd like to go on a passge with a boat....I jumped at the chance. What this means is.......our boat has to go away for more repairs. In the meantime to keep the station up and running a relief boat needs to be brought here to the island so then our boat can go away for repair and that there is still a boat on station just in case it is needed in an emergency. This trip is called a 'passage' and so this coming Monday / Tuesday we have to go and collect a relief boat from Conwy in North Wales and bring it back to the island. I can't wait I can tell you, I'm so looking forward to it. The rest of the night's training went very well indeed. Learned where we went wrong on Sundays exercise along with, for the first time for myself learning about the breechers boy. All in all a very good night indeed.......................................

10 April 2005 ------ Out on the boat again today and another great time was had. Did a number of new tasks not, I'm afraid very successful as I made a couple of mistakes which just seemed to carry on from one task to the other. Nothing major or anything like that but just silly things. We had just finished a task and having a little breather at the stern when the chap I was working with said he wasn't feeling well at all. I informed the coxswain who then called one of the other crew members to have a look. As it happens this other crew member is a doctor so within no time at all he had taken command and the ill crew member was taken down into the wheelhouse for treatment. The coxswain then turned the boat around and headed back into Ramsey harbour where the ground crew were waitng to pick up the ill crew member. this was the first time that I'd ever been into the harbour on board and it seemed very different indeed. We did a few exercises in the harbour then headed back out of the entrance and towards the boathouse where we had a prom recovery..................

31 March 2005 ------ Great exercise tonight as I was lucky to be chosen to go out on the boat. Came back shattered as the coxswain had us running about completing most tasks. First off it was the emergency steering which myself and another crew member had to get out and set up. Once this was completed another two crew took over to steer the boat whilst we then had to get out the jasons cradle to rescue the 2nd coxswain, who wearing a dry suit jumped overboard. Made more difficult by the fact of the emergency steering we made two rescues then changed places with the other two crew members so we were now steering the boat whilst they attemted the rescue. Once all this action had ended it was back into the stern hold to check on the propellers. Down in this hold where the steering mechanism is and where the exhaust pipes lead outside is access to the propellers just in case they get snagged by any debris. When these cylinders are taken out you have clear access to the propellers and anything can be cut away by using the extra long and very sharp knife that is stored close by. Next, still down in the very small confines of this hold we operated the bilge pumps which are used to pump out any water that may have got into the bilges. This took an age and with all the gear on the sweat was dripping off me by the time I climbed up the ladder onto the deck. As soon as we were up on deck a shout went out of man overboard so I rushed up to the bows to be lookout and point to where the boat needed to go. This time it wasn't actually the 2nd coxswain who had jumped overboard but one of the fenders that had been thrown. With another of the crew now on lookout and pointing the way I picked up one of the two large hooks that are used to hook up objets and managed to hook the fender on the first attempt. Once recovered it was then thrown overboard on another four or five occasions, with the exercise being repeated each time. After the fifth time the fender was then stowed away in it's normal position on the stern rails and we headed back to Ramsey and were lucky to have a beach recovery................................


24 March 2005 ------ Went over a number of items that I'd previously learned but needed reminders about. These included the procedure for the emergency steering and the deployment of the salvage pump. All carried out in the boathouse as there was no launch exercise tonight. Still it was worth it as I'm now more certain of the procedures....................

20 March 2005 ------ Hoping to get a try out on the boat today but there were more crew turn up than normal for an early Sunday morning and as I'd been out previous it was only fair that I stayed on shore and did my bit there. Watched some videos about the storage and deployment of emergency flares which was very informative and then had the role of tractor floosie for the recovery of the boat. Got rather wet as we drove out into the waves to throw the line  but seeing as it was again a beach recovery the rest went like clockwork...........................................

15 March 2005 ------Tonights launch was at 18:30 so arrived at around 18:00 in time to prepare. Wasn't chosen to go out which I wasn't too disappointed about as I went out last time and the weather today has been rather wild to say the least and there is rather a swell so maybe the shore is the best option. Also with it being an inspectors exercise I'm not that confident in my ability at the moment so I suppose it's better that I stay on shore for tonight. Whilst waiting for the return of the boat we walked around to the harbour to have a look around another lifeboat that had been berthed up for a few days whilst in transit to another station. It was a Tyne class boat which is a lot larger than our Mersey class and it was nice to look around and see the difference. Certainly they have a lot more room on deck and the survivors cabin seems to be a lot larger as well as having easier access. By the time the boat came back the wind was blowing a very strong gale and was whipping up the surf from the sea so we got quite wet though it being low tide we had the luxury of a beach recovery.......................................

13 March 2005 ------ Not a great deal doing down the boathouse today just getting the place ready for the inspection which is taking place on Tuesday. Spent most of the time cleaning up the outside of the boathouse making it look in tip top condition............................................
27 February 2005 ------ Never managed to get down to the boathouse last Thursday evening for some training as seeing I was on the night shift I fell asleep and missed it all. No problems with getting up this morning though as I made sure I would be awake in time so as not to miss this exercise and am I glad that I didn't miss it as I was out on the boat. Today we were practising how to use the line rocket launchers. We left Ramsey and headed out north past the Point of Ayre and came to a stop some way off.   I had been  shown these launchers in the boathouse and was told how to use them but in reality everything is that bit different. This piece of kit is needed when you have to send a line to the casualty and the distance between the two is greater than what could be thrown using a heaving line. What we have is a big firework encased in a large plastic holder about ten inches in diameter. Attached to the rocket is a line, 500 metres long that is then attached to the line that is attached to the boat that you need the casualties to get hold of. There is a set procedure that is required to deploy this safely and that was what we were learning today. When it came to my turn I was more than ready but as I said earlier it was easier said than done. With the swell of the sea I was finding it difficult to stay upright but was managing to do so though not as good as the old hands on deck.....Anyway everything ready I pulled the safety pin out and then pulled the trigger..........BOOOOOOMMMMMM......off went the rocket with the line trailing and the recoil from the rocket was amazing. We had been warned about this but I was amazed at how much force there was, it certainly pushed me back with great force.  I just hope that when I come to do it for real I send it in the right direction. Once the exercise had been completed and all on board had had a go at letting one off it was full steam ahead back to ramsey for a prom recovery. The ride back was very pleasant a lot more so than when going out as the sea was now with us. Though still bumpy it wasn't as bad, one of the lads at the back of the boat where we were standing even saw a number of seals following in the wake and was surprised that we were able to see them in this area. I wasn't as I've spent many a time looking at the seals at Port Moar which wasn't that too far away.......back on the beach and being recovered I asked to stay on board to learn the different things that need to be done during recovery on the boat. Again I've sen it all from the shore point of view but never before from the boat so more stuff learned.........Finished off feeling high as a kite and drove the short distance home on cloud 9.........if only I could bottle the feeling I'd be a millionaire......Can't wait for the next time I can tell you.........................................

17 February 2005 ------ Launch tonight, glad I'm only on shore crew as seeing as I'm on the afternoon shift I still have work to do. Not a problem if I'm on the boat but if I'm only shore crew then I help with the launch, go back to work and then return for the recovery which was OK tonight as it was completed on the beach...........................................

13 February 2005 ------ OOPS!!!!! missed todays training as I was still fast asleep. Most pobably had something to do with the fact that we never got in from the party until gone 02:00 am...........................

10 February 2005 ------ Five AM, just getting ready in the bathroom to go to work on the early shift when my pager goes off. IMMEDIATE READINESS ALB is the message so it's straight into the car for a drive down to the boathouse. Even though I was dressed when the alarm came I'm still not first to get there. Call has come in from Liverpool Coastguard telling us that there is a fishing vessel grounded in Ramsey bay requesting assistance. It turns out to be the "MFV Kingfisher " out of Kirkudbright and she has run aground just of the cliffs between Port-e-Vullen and Maughold Head, a short distance from Ramsey. By the time the crew were on board and we launched it was probably about 05:15 and the tide was still going out. A very low tide, so things were only going to get worse for the stricken vessel. Within five minutes the boat was alongside, well as near as it could get as the depth of water was too shallow to get right up close to try and pull it off. Communications were made and everything else seemed to be OK so it was just a matter of waiting until the tide turned and started to come back in again. This occurred at around 08:30 when the waters depth was sufficient for our boat to go alongside the stricken vessel, attach a line and start to manouvre it off the bank or rocks that it had settled upon. It didn't take too long to do this and within no time at all she was steaming away north with no obvious signs of anything untowards wrong with here. So it was then straight back to Ramsey where a beach recovery was made and bacon baps were waiting for the whole crew from a friendly neighbour, well she does happen to be one of the crews Mom........mmmmmmm delicious with a warm cup of tea. As the boats were quite close to the shore I managed to get a few piccies after driving out to Port-e-Vullen and walking along the cliff path..

09 February 2005 ------ Great night of training down the boathouse, not that I learned anything new it was just that we went over old ground which helped to reinforce in my mind certain procedures and places. It's amazing what there is to learn. Just knowing where everything is situated on the boat is a difficult task in itself never mind getting that piece of kit out and trying to use it. One cracking piece of kit that I'd been shown before but had never used was the night sight. A very impotant piece for obvious reasons as a lot of our work will be done in pitch black darkness. Anyway I knew where they were stowed but had never used. That was about to change as I was asked to get them out and to see if I could operate them. A fairly straight forward procedure which went well. As we were in the boathouse with all lights on it was decided that we would take a walk down the beach to see how they work. Out on the beach it was very dark you could hardly see your hand in front of you however once the night sight was turned on you could see every little detail. OK it was in green but you could see everything. the whole place was illuminated in a green haze, I could even see the lights of the Lake District over the sea, I was amazed...............................

06 February 2005 ------ Struggled to wake up this morning because of our late night last night but managed to be down the boathouse for just gone 09:00 ready for a launch exercise at 09:30. As normal the crew just sit in the crew room and wait to be called by the coxswain if we are needed. The other chap who is at the same level as me was called first then others were called straight afterwards, not hearing my name called out I went down the stairs and put my boots on along with my hard hat and high visibility jacket ready to launch. I was just walking across the road towards the beach after checking all was OK around the boat when I heard the coswain shout 'What are you doing down there? I called you to get your gear on to come on the boat'. Not needing to be told twice let alone three times I rushed back up the stairs into the changing room and donned the whole kit as fast as I could. On the boat, I just had time to straighten and tighten my helmet before we were trundling towards the water down the slipway, Not far off a high tide so not too far a journey, we were soon at a depth that we could be released from the tractor. So with lump hammer in hand and listening to the whistles coming from the coxswain, I broke off one of the four connecting chains that stabilise the boat on the tractor and we were soon on our way.  On the other times that I'd been out on the boat the sea had been as calm as a mill pond, today was a bit different as there was quite a swell which was obvious straight away as the boat was pitching as soon as we broke away from the tractor. One of the chaps who'd just been made up to station trainer called us together to inform us what he was going to go over today. To start of with we went over an important aspect of what's entailed whilst on watch / lookout and for this we had to walk to the front / bow of the boat where he said it was that much quieter. As an old hand he managed this task with ease whilst the two of us grabbed on for dear life as we made our way to the front and knelt down slowly and held on to anything whilst the trainer just stood there oblivious to the fact that the boat was behaving like a carriage on a big dipper ride. Well I may be exaggerating a bit there but it was moving about conciderably, enough for me to hold on to a central point whilst I steadied my knees on the deck. Once in a comfortable position we went through what we are to look out for, not as easy as it seems as we have a hell of an area to cover as well as a lot of movement on the sea and the boat. When you think we could be looking for something no bigger than a football in an ever changing area you get the idea. freezing cold by this time, as I never got time in all the rush to get on board to get a pair of gloves. (Note here always make sure you have a pair of gloves in pockets). We then went into the wheel house to be shown various items such as the boat binoculars and to learn various things such as what to look out for in times of danger.....flares, people waving etc etc. After a while in here while we made our way along the coast north to The Point of Ayre the coxswain then asked the trainer to show us a piece of equipment called a "Drouge" and how it should be deployed. It's a piece of kit that I think resembles a large air sock made of a strong rubber. It is used to stabilise or slow down the boat when going against tides and is deployed at the stern. I wont go through the whole procedure but suffice to say it's a lot easier doing it on dry land and not when the boat is rolling and pitching all over the place as it was doing at this moment as the sea was here very rough. In fact I'm sure that from trough to crest the waves were at least ten feet high. All I could think of is that I can't drop anything, again a lot easier said than done when wearing thick gloves I had to undo a small shackle, place a rope eylet in the space as well as the chain and then re-do it all up. Once when the exercise had finished, do everything in reverse. That completed it was decided that we should have a go at the emergency steering. We had gone through the procedure before whilst stationary  in the boathouse but things were completly different today. We were lucky in the fact that it was light and that we had very good points of reference (Ayre lighthouse) to align up on. Everything in position we were asked to head off back to the station....easy peasy....head on straight for a bit then bear right around the point then it was straight on towards Ramsey.......No, No, No, we did nothing like that. What we did is more like a slalom champion in the Olympics. I couldn't believe how difficult it was between the two of us to steer a straight, accurate course. When the exercise was over and everything back to full power and steering we were told that we didn't do too bad a job as it's a very difficult task to do straight off. Back then to Ramsey with three very keen jet skiers in our wake. They must have been freezing but they followed us all the way back to port. Rather them than me as I can remember the last and only time that I was on a jet ski and I certainly don't want to repeat that incident. It was then onto the beach for a recovery where we were taught waht was needed at the bow. Something that we had seen numerous times during recovery but from down on the beach. this time we were having to do it from the boats perspective and all was different. Another task learned. Lucky in the fact that we managed a beach recovery, I then went back on board, having left to help with the recovery to see how the boat was re-fueled from this end. i'd done it forom the shore crew point of view but never from this end. All fueled up, shattered and exhausted i then got in my car for the drive home......relaxation time at last.....Well for a few minutes until it was time to catch up on different things........No rest for the wicked...GOD I must have been naughty when I was young as I was shattered but I'd just experienced one of my best mornings ever, it was BRILLIANT, even after such a crap week as I've had. Can't wait for the next time................................

30 January 2005 ------ Got up late today but still made it down to the boathouse. Because our boat is coming back today we had to sort out the stuff on the relief boat. It was decided that as the new crew weren't coming until the next Tuesday we had to put the boat into the harbour and this would be done at around 13:45. In the meantime we practiced with the latest bit of kit that had been issued, these being headphones / microphones that are worn so as we can be in contact with each other on the boat. Went back home to prepare for our friend coming but returned to aid with the launch of the relief boat so that it could be berthed in the harbour and also be there for the recovery of ours. Sitting in the boathouse just after launching the relief boat, and hearing off our boat that had just passed Maughold Head (about 2 miles from base) when a chap came in asking for help. His two sons had earlier in the day taken out their small boat for a days fishing and were overdue. We couldn't see anything through our boathouse binoculars so we diverted our boat to go and do a search. Half an hour later the missing boat was found so they returned to base and recovery was made by about 15:30, just in time for me to go around to the 'Traff' for a quick pint....What a day..................

27 January 2005 ------ Practice launch tonight that I'd hoped to get out on the boat but no luck, maybe next time. learned that we were finaly to get our boat The Anne and James Ritchie back from Appledore where it had been undergoing repairs and updates to varius systems. This would entail a crew being flown to Bristol early Friday morning. From there a drive to the shipyard in north Devon. Then it was on board for a sail to fishguard for the night. early Saturday it was once again an early start to sail to Holyhead for an overnight stay there before leaving early Sunday morning for the journey over the Irish sea back to the island for around 14:00 hours...........................

  20 January 2005 ------ An interesting night of training where I came out thinking, well yeh I'm starting to get the hang of some of the things. Must make sure though to get myself a length of rope so that I can practice my knots....It's like been back in the boy scouts. What made the night interesting was that nearly all the crew were there so there was good chat and that for us newbies and some of the not so newbies they decided to do a simple simulation of an event. The secenario was that we were heading towards the casualties which we would reach in approx 15 minutes so we had to get out all the equipment that we thought we would need for the rescue. All that we knew was that a boat was in trouble a possibility of fire and that people were injured. We weren't planned for a launch so all of this was done in the boathouse. One of the first things that was brought up on deck was the salvage pump. This is kept in the survivors cabin on a 'Mersey' so it has to be man handled onto the deck through one of the hatches by the use of attached ropes. Not that easy a manoeuvere but once on deck it was put into position and I was shown how to start up the engine. It's very similar to a portable  generator and is worked on the same lines by using a pull rope, once primed it started up OK for me. Another task learned, next it was the fire hose and where it was kept and where it had to be connected. This was then assembled in position ready for use.  While our little group was concentrating on this  other groups had been working on getting other equipment ready this included search lights, Jason's cradle, stretcher, slings, dry suits, radios for communication and first aid kit. All these pieces of kit have their own place on the boat so I had to learn where they all came from and where they all had to go back to. Once that was done we then went through the first aid kit learning what all the different stuff was for. As a crew member I will have to do a basic first aid as standard however on our boat we have a doctor and it was great hearing off him how all the stuff should be used and why and when etc....very interesting. Just hope that I never have to use it in real terms but that if I do I know I will be well trained and able to do the job in hand........................................................

13 January 2005 ------ No practice tonight just a crew meeting. We have one about every three months so points can be raised etc. Nothing too exciting except that they are going to try and use the pagers that we all have for sending more messages ie: what time pracice launches are at and meetings. had not long left the meeting and gone into work when the pagers went off. At first I thought that it was just a new training message but a quick look showed a launch was needed....................................
................Just setting a job up when my pager goes off, launch ALB. I had not long left the boathouse as there had been a crew meeting so it was there again for the second time tonight. Time just gone 23:30 so the roads for the quick drive there were empty. By the time I got to the boathouse a full crew was on board and the boat was launched soon after. A mayday call had come in from a fishing vessel "The Siskin" reporting that it was taking on water and that the crew of three were getting ready to go into the life raft. The position was about 10 miles north west of St Bees. Next call from them stated that the three persons on board were now on the life raft and that the boat had sunk. Both Ramsey and Workington boats were called out as well as a helecopter. Life raft located after about 45 minutes by the helecopter and the three casualties were winched aboard safely. Boats stood down so returned to port, back in the boathouse ready for the next shout at 02:30.............................................

09 January 2005 ------ My first time down the boathouse this year as I had to miss the practice launch last Thursday due to the bad news I had at work. All the talk was of the bad storms that we've been having and listening to the marine radio announcements we are still in for a lot more. Put away some of the kit back onto the boat and the rest of the time was spent checking the crew lifejackets. These had to be inflated and left for a long period of time to check for leaks and then packed away again. At the same time we had to check that the light worked, that the gas cylinders were full and hadn't been pierced, the salt water sensor was still intact, the emergency flares(two) were still in date and then we had to pack them all away ready for use. This was interesting as it's a job I hadn't previously done but one that has to be done on a regular basis................

16 December 2004 ------ Quite an interesting night tonight as I'm been shown the procedure for tying up a boat to the side of a harbour wall and how in different conditions you would tie it up. Not at first evident but when you think if you were berthing in Ramsey harbour at high tide you would need to leave a lot of loose rope as at low tide you are a good 30ft lower. Also learned the procedure for tying on the fenders when needed and in the process learned yet more knots. I'm going to have to get myself a large piece of rope and learn them at home, a perfect place would be from the bannisters at the top of the stairs..................

09 December 2004 ------ Training night down the boathouse and I learned quite a lot. First on the agenda was to be shown what the procedure is if anything gets tangled in the propellers which require cutting away. No we don't jump over board and dive down beneath the boat. What we do is to climb down into a compartment at the stern of the boat and undo caps which cover tubes which are directly over both props. We then have a very sharp vicious looking tool which we use to cut away any obstruction. Also down in this very small tight fitting compartment is the steering mechanism which you have to be very careful with, along with the emergency steering kit. This piece of kit was shown to us later though I will need a hell of a lot more practice to get it right. Finished down in the dark it was then into the wheel house to learn what is carried in which locker. I was amazed at the amount of stuff that the boats carry, though when you think about it all neccessarry stuff. Binoculars, night vision sights, oxygen, flares etc etc.............................

07 December 2004 ------ Busy writing up a report at work and my pager starts to beep and vibrate and I nearly jump out of my skin, I then think it's not Wednesday so it must be a shout. Look at my pager and it says 10:30 launch ALB. OK I spring into action, out of the office only to remember that my car keys are in my jacket on the back of my chair. So it's quickly back into the office with pager still beeping and all the people in the office looking at me wondering what was happening, to pick up my jacket and car keys. Into the car and from where I work the distance to the boathouse is no more than three quarters of a mile so not far. Turn onto east quay and I'm stuck behind a chap in a big four wheel drive motor with an RNLI sticker in the back going at 15mph. So frustrating when you are rushing to get somewhere. Anyway me tapping the steering wheel wont make him go any quicker so I just follow him very slowly. We are only half way up the key when I first see, then hear the maroons being let off. Pull up at the side of the boathouse  and jump out of the car. Already there is a full crew on the boat so I run into the changing room for my boots, high visibility jacket and hard hat ready to launch. Tide is on the way out so it's a fair way to the sea line. As quickly as possible we check all that we need to do ensuring that we have left nothing and the boat is soon going at full speed to the rescue. Once the baat is off the carriage we have to start prepairing it for recovery, once that is done we trudge back up the beach to the boathouse and crew room to see what the shout is all about.
The call was for a collision of fishing vessels that had collided north of Point Ayre and one was taking on water. The damaged vessel was 'MV Ellen' and the other the 'Atlantis Belle' which seemed to be not too badly damaged. The exact position was then called as 54-36-62 degrees North.....004-30-74 degrees West. This would make it about 8 miles off the north east tip of the Ayres and would take a while for the boat to reach it. The boat which is a relief boat as our regular one is away for service had just passed Point Ayre when those on board felt heavy vibration, the starboard engine seemed to fluctuate it's revs then it all went completely wrong and the gear box stopped working as it should. Only down to one engine, the Peel lifeboat was called up for backup just in case we stopped all together. Not that far from target vessels we carried on and were soon along side. Once there two of our crew were transfered onto the 'Ellan' along with the salvage pump to pump out the water that it was taking on board. Soon the Peel lifeboat arrived and escorted both the 'Ellan' under her own power and us back to Ramsey just in case of any other mishap. Once back in Ramsey bay a more thorough investigation of the damage was taken and it was decided by their crew to take it into Ramsey harbour. For this to happen they would have to wait a while for the tide to be higher as Ramsey harbour is only accessible when there is a high tide or just before and after. This would be at about five o'clock for access to the main harbour, in the meantime the coxswain brought our boat alongside the inner south breakwater so as another RNLI mechanic who happened to be at one of the other stations could assess what was the problem with the boat. He arrived at around 16:30 and it was found that the work could be carried out on station and that parts and others need ed to help could be in Ramsey tomorrow (Wednesday) sometime and that it would entail a whole days work. We, the shore crew had earlier prepared for a beach recovery however with the delays the tide was advancing rather quickly and eating up our precious beach space so a prom recovery is what we ended up with, and a pretty poor one at that as some people had parked their cars in awkward places which we had to work around. The sooner we can get double yellows and a larger hatched area that is really needed around the boathouse slipway the better. Back in the boathouse and all ready for the next service at 18:30 and I'm shattered as I've been up since 04:30 so it's home for tea, a quick shower on here to do this and then off to bed for a good nights sleep......................

05 December 2004 ------ No chance of a lie in today as it's down to the boathouse for an early launch exercise at 09:30. The crew arrive in dribs and drabs then the second coxswain tells me to get my kit on. I was hoping for this but it was nice to be asked. This will be only my second time out on the boat. Fully kitted up I'm on the boat and it's soon pulling out of the boathouse, a low tide today, still on it's way out so it's a fair way until we meet the waters edge. Once here I take up a position at the rear port side ready to release the retaining chains with the help of a lump hammer. This done we are at full speed passing first the iron pier, Port Lewaige, Port-e-Vullen (where we used to live....it looks so different from this side) then Maughold Head until we are at Port Moar. All this time we have been followed by three local lads on their jet-skis getting the full advantage of the wake that we are creating. Sometimes they are jumping I would think in the region of 12 feet above the water line, it makes a fantastic sight. On reaching Port Moar it was out with the anchor, not such an easy job as it sounds anyway once this is out it's on with the practice with the Jasons Cradle. A piece of equipment used to recover bodies / people from the water. Our body today was going to be one of the crew dressed in a dry suit, so it's over the side and into the drink until we could rescue him. Again easier said than done but after numerous attempts we had it off to a tee, or well nearly. So it was up with anchor and back to port. Nearing port we radioed in and were told that they were short of shore crew to help with the recovery, they needed more people. In an instant the coxswain said no probs we'll get the help of the lads with the jet-skis. I volunteered!!!!!!! I soon found myself hanging over the edge of the boat trying to mount one of the jet-skis, bear in mind that I am in normal kit not a dry suit like the other chap who said he'd go ashore. Once on board the lad said hold on tight....what to I said...me he said...and move up closer. This I did and held on for dear life as he went off at full tilt towards the shore. On nearing the shore he asked me where I wanted dropping off, I told him once we were in shallow water. When we were there I started to get off the jet-ski when he tried to get in nearer to the shore. The outcome was that I went right over at the rear and ended up head first into the sea.......ending up getting soaked. Wading into shore with my boots still filling up with ice cold seawater I was wondering if it was worth it. ( It certainly was). What a fantastic morning I'd had...probably one of the best ever.....just brilliant, I just wish I'd joined up earlier. Can't wait until I'm on a real shout and I can help rescue someone in difficulty...it will then be worth all the effort..........................

02 December 2004 ------ Missed last Sundays visit to the boathouse as we'd been to a party the night before and I slept in, so I made sure that I went down tonight. No launch tonight but still a lot to learn. One of the experienced hands took me and the other two new lads and showed us around the survivors cabin and all that it holds. I'd been in here the other week but still had a lot to learn and trying to remember what compartment held what equipment. Some of the equipment held here include the stretcher and all webbings to haul it onto the boat, a large first aid kit, dry suits and amongst other things the new jasons cradle used to recover people from the sea. Apart from all that on the boat we decorated the boathouse ready for Christmas....a great night had by all..................................

25 November 2004 ------ I wish I was on another shift when we launch on a Thursday. Previously when we launched on a Thursday I was on the early shift but now as things are I'm working the afternoon shift so I have to go into work early to leave so I can help launch the boat, then go back to work for an hour and a half until it's time to recover the boat. When that's done it's then back to work for the final half hour or so. Makes it so dis-jointed and I do miss going to the yacht club after for a drink with the crew. It's not the same going back after I've had to go back to work.
Two new chaps down the boathouse tonight, one a newcomer and one who was on the crew many years ago but who had left the area and has now returned. Hoped that I'd get chance to go on board again tonight but I was out of luck, never mind maybe next time. To top it all it was a prom recovery which for some reason seems to get more difficult and convoluted each and every time we do them............................

14 November 2004 ------ No launch today as it's Remembrance Sunday and we are on parade dressed in all our best finery. First time I've ever been involved in this ceremony and all went well..........................

4 November 2004 ------ Practice launch tonight, first time proper with the relief boat and all went well. As luck had it we recovered at low tide which is so much easier. Also swapped over tractors as our regular tractor has to have it's service over the next week or so.....................................

31 October 2004 ------ Popped down the boathouse today for a few hours and was shown a bit more about the procedure for raising and lowering the anchor. It's rather a lot more complicated than it sounds and includes a number of different ropes and shackles. I also learned a few more knots which will come in very useful when it comes to my turn to help with the anchor.........................................

30 October 2004 ------ A very busy day for the crew who are going on the passage trip to Appledore with the Anne and James Ritchie. Their first port of call is Hollyhead in Anglesey for a re-fuel then it's on to Barmouth for an overnight stop. Next day to Fishguard for another over night stop before continuing to Appledore the following day. So an early start is important to get some miles under their belt and to catch the tides right. Launch was just after 10:30 the first task was a quick trip into Ramsey harbour to meet up with the relief boat, Margaret Jean where important pieces of equipment local to the Ramsey boat are swapped over. Then it was full steam ahead and they were on their way. Something I did notice was once on their way their radio call name was changed. All Lifeboats have numbers, ours is 12-14; all these numbers defined by the class of boat i.e. Mersey Class. When on a service or just out on practice ours is known as the Ramsey Lifeboat, for obvious reasons.However once they had set off on the trip it was changed to 12-14 and the relief boat, Margaret Jean is now the Ramsey Lifeboat. Anyway the remaining crew who were on the Margaret Jean then went out on an exercise for about two hours coming in for recovery at 13:15. Though of the same class it looks different to ours as it has an anti foul paint on it's hull which is red, ours has just a standard white hull but will be painted red whilst having it's service. This is so it can be moored permanently in water if need be. So all away safely in the boathouse it was off home for a bit of shopping and then relaxation.............................

28 October 2004 ------ No launch tonight just a meet up with the rest of the crew who have been rather busy during the day. Our boat the Anne and James Ritchie is due for a re-fit and so we have had a relief boat, Margaret Jean brought into Ramsey and our boat has to go to the repair boatyard for it's overhaul. The relief boat arrived today, a crew from Ramsey picking it up from Peel and sailing it up here. At present this is  moored in the harbour whilst ours is still in the boathouse. the plan is to launch ours on Saturday morning and transfer the relief to the tractor carriage whilst ours goes to the boatyard which is Appledore in North Devon.......................................
24 October 2004 ------ Sunday practice is normally at 09:30 but I got a phone call off Mark to say that the time had to be altered due to the fact that todays exercise was going to be governed by the fact we were linking up with a helecopter exercise from RAF Valley in Anglesey. This is a regular event, one that all the crew look forward to. The time of launch was 18:30 and at that time the weather was deteriating badly. Being still very new to all of this I stayed on shore helping with the launch and recovery. By the time the helecopter had joined up with the boat the weather was apalling, very strong winds and driving heavy rain. The chap who was the winchman on the helecopter was new and this was to be his first exercise so being extra careful it was decided that the boat was moved in nearer to the shore to a more protected position.  Once in a better area a number of the crew were lifted up off the boat and to the door of the helecopter and then lowered back on to the deck of the boat. After a succesful exercise the helecopter returned to Valley and the boat was brought in and recovered. A different part to learn for me, I was to be the tractor drivers 'FLOOSIE'. This is probably the easiest of the jobs that we have to do but one that is very important.  The tractor door is shut so that the driver is in a water tight vehicle, I am standing outside in the pouring rain as he drives into the sea to meet the boat. I then throw a line to two crew members waiting on the boat, the end of which is attached to a hook which in turn is attached to a steel cable on a winch drum on the tractor. The hook is attached to a cable on the boat and the tractor then reverses back up the beach trailing the boat behind. my job as floosie now done I climb down from the tractoe and help in the next step of recovering the boat and we are all in the boathouse by about 21:00..............................
13 October 2004 ------ Thursday normal practice exercise...well that's what I thought until I got to the boathouse and was on my way to put my wellies on to help with the launch when Steve the 2nd coxswain said....get your kit on you're coming out on the boat! God was I excited, this was the moment I had been waiting for for a long while. I haven't got any boat gear yet but one of the lads who didn't want to go out said I could use his. it fitted perfectly. All kitted up I go on the boat, the last person on and as soon as I'm on board they give the signal for it to move out of the boathouse. Trundling down the beach to the sea all seems so very different from my position at the helm of the boat. For a start it seems so high up. I've seen this procedure many times before and know it inside out but now that I'm on the boat my mind goes blank and with all the excitement things seem to be going past in a flash. We are out for just under two hours, and in that time some of the crew were put through their paces on a number of tasks. One of these was to locate a bouy that we had earlier thrown overboard, using a specified search and locate procedure. Another task was a simulated fire in the engine room. All exciting stuff I must say. It was just a pity that it came to an end but I was on such a high that I'm sure I flotaed firstly back to work then later home.....................................

08 October 2004 ------ Friday evening just sitting down for tea when I get a phone call from Mark (the coxswain) asking if I was available to help with a launch. Ali the mechanic whilst doing a routine inspection had noticed that there was a crack in one of the turbo vanes. This of course had to be changed to prevent any further damage. After replacing this there was then the need to check to see if all was OK, hence the need for this launch. It was only to be a quick launch just to see if all was working well, so we launched at 18:30 and were back in the boathouse just after 20:00 with all in working order..............

03 September 2004 ------ Friday evening just got out of the shower at 21:00, knackered after a week getting up at 04:30. ready to settle down and go to bed when the beeper goes off. Race to the boathouse and help to launch  boat to aid stricken yacht 'CAROLINE' caught in surf in rough seas in Ramsey bay. Towed to mooring. Thank God it's only a quick one as I'm shattered. Back home and in bed by midnight.

23 August 2004 ------ Monday morning 08:00 and I'm busy at work when the beeper goes off. Not expecting it I jump right up and nearly hit the roof. Run out of the office to get the supervisor to give me a lift down to the boathouse. Launched the boat to aid stricken vessel 'KARIANDA' that had it's anchor snagged on something in the bay and couldn't move in the very rough seas. Un-snagged anchor by cutting and then retrieving it and towed boat to deeper mooring. Recovered boat and was back in work by about 10:15..........

15 August 2004 ------ Sunday and this week means that the first shift is   tonight...URGHH. Start work at 22:00 but my walk in was disturbed by the beeper going off. Raced back to the house where I picked up the car and the wife drove me to the boathouse. Boat launched at 21:55 in search of missing yacht 'SULA MIST' calm weather and boat found after a search of 2 hours and towed back safely to Ramsey harbour with both crew safe. Search took so long as the people on the 'Sula Mist' had left the port across with nothing. No flares, radio, map, lights you name it they hadn't got it. Nor had they any idea of where they were. picked them up in the main shipping lanes north of Point of Ayres not far from one of the ferries that cross this part of the north Irish Sea. Got back into work at just after 02:00 Monday morning................

01 August 2004 ------ Spent the morning launching the boat and bringing into harbour for the boat blessing. After a little exercise all cleaned up and put back into boathouse. Then maroons went off at around 17:00, boat launched to help small boat 'SEA WICKSER' that had ran out of fuel. Towed back safely into harbour........

31 July 2004 ------ Lifeboat day at Ramsey so all crew are present and boat out on slipway when call comes in to launch to rescue a small fishing boat stranded off the north tip of the island Point Ayres. Sounds good but at the time the maroons went off we were in the middle of towing the small inflateable through the town collecting money. We were still a way from the boathouse when we got the call so we just dropped everything and started running. Well not everything really as I was left pulling the boat  and limping as my knee is playing me up. Just turned the corner onto the prom, passed the church straight into a group of people having their WEDDING photos taken. OOPS!!!!!  i bet there aren't many people who can look at their wedding photos and see people with boats running through. Boat launched in search of the vessel 'SEA RAIDER' which was  located north east of Ramsey and found to have ran out of fuel. Towed back safely into harbour wher we carried on with the days festivities.  At least the crowd that had come for the fun had seen what we actually do with all their donations.......................................

10 May 2004 ------ Sunday afternoon at about 19:00, sitting in the garden relaxing when bleep goes off. Wondered what it was at first until daughter number two shouts out 'Pete isn't that your beeper that's going off and I'm sure that was the maroons that I've just heard'. Jump into car and find that we've been called out to search for a missing fishing boat. The 'LUCE BAY' which was located north of the Point Ayres having engine trouble.  Found and towed back safely to harbour.........................