12 EMERGENCIES LIFEBOAT RESCUE
The role of the lifeboat is to save lives – not to salvage stricken boats. That said, they will often take a boat in tow if the circumstances allow. Indeed, sometimes it’s the safest way to bring those in peril back to port.
Having contacted the rescue services, what should you do then?
■ Assess your predicament as honestly as you can. If it might be possible to tow your boat home, think how this might be done. As we touched on in the earlier section on towing (page 45) the cleats on many smaller craft are often far too light to take severe loads. You may need to rig a bridle, taking the ropes back to stronger parts of the structure. If the lifeboat does take you
in it will be his towline that will be used – almost certainly mightier than anything you might have on board. Also think about protecting against chafe – spare clothing folded into pads serving very well for this task.
■ Clear the cockpit of rods, lines and tackle – in fact any objects that might hinder the operation.
■ The lifeboat should contact you (if he can) in advance by VHF advising you of his estimated time of arrival (ETA) and asking for further information on your plight – how many on board, are they fit, disabled, injured whatever. Communicate this information to him very clearly.
■ Once the lifeboat arrives, the coxswain becomes the ‘on scene commander’ – to use their own words. Don’t argue with anything they do and don’t be offended if their manner sounds curt. They won’t waste words on idle chitchat and neither should you. However, they will do what they can to put you at ease and it’s important for them to know who the skipper is or who has taken over if the skipper is out of action. In short, the lifeboatmen will want to know who to talk to and all others should stay as silent as possible unless there is an important reason to butt in.
■ Be prepared to receive lines, following their instructions exactly.
■ The lifeboat may put their own crew members on board. Again, don’t protest. If an injury is involved, they will assess the severity or otherwise and it may be decided that a helicopter should be called to get him to hospital without delay.
RIB RESCUE
If you are well inshore and the weather is reasonable, you may be attended by an inshore lifeboat, almost always a RIB manned by either 2 or 3 crew members. The general principles are pretty much the same as for the fully crewed offshore lifeboats – with one exception. The towing capabilities of these much lighter craft are greatly reduced, so they are much more likely to take you off and leave your boat to (hopefully) be salvaged by others.
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RYA Seamanship for Sea Anglers
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