Penlee lifeboat loss 31 years ago today
Discussion
Thirty five years ago today the Penlee Lifeboat was lost with all hands along with the crew and family members aboard the Union Star.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penlee_lifeboat_disas...
Spare a thought for those who lost their lives that night and take comfort from the fact that there are people who will lay it on the line with no thought of reward when we need them most.
R.I.P.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penlee_lifeboat_disas...
Spare a thought for those who lost their lives that night and take comfort from the fact that there are people who will lay it on the line with no thought of reward when we need them most.
R.I.P.
Edited by Athlon on Sunday 18th December 21:56
I remember it with a bit of a thumping heart and dusty eyes.
Very brave men.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeIX0VnUMKo
Very brave men.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeIX0VnUMKo
We are all capable of doing brave acts in the heat of the moment.
However to attempt a brave act when you are terrified beyond belief, takes a very special kind of person.
The RNLI crew that night were all that kind of person.
I'm not a great giver to charities, but whenever I see an RNLI collection tin, whatever spare change I have goes in.
That BBC4 documentary linked above, should be shown in all schools.
However to attempt a brave act when you are terrified beyond belief, takes a very special kind of person.
The RNLI crew that night were all that kind of person.
I'm not a great giver to charities, but whenever I see an RNLI collection tin, whatever spare change I have goes in.
That BBC4 documentary linked above, should be shown in all schools.
Having lived in Falmouth for a number of years now I was kind of aware of the story but having just watched the BBC4 documentary above, f*** me, what bravery from those chaps that night. I've stood on the cliffs at Porthleven watching the 50ft waves come crashing in before but couldn't even imagine going out in a boat. Hopefully some of the changes that it brought about and improved technology will mean something like it will never happen again.
I was brought up in Ilfracombe, N.Devon. At school one of my teachers was a lifeboatman.
Quite frequently during a lesson his pager would go off and we would hear the two flares that signaled a lifeboat call out.
Mr Thompson would then leave the class and be off to sort out whatever was required.
I remember the Penlee disaster well.
Brave and unselfish soles every one of them and all volunteers as well.
I ALWAYS put some money in the lifeboat fund whenever I see one.
I just think that if EVERY person who went to the seaside put just one pound in the fund,these men and women could the very best equipment, and surely that's the very least they deserve.
Quite frequently during a lesson his pager would go off and we would hear the two flares that signaled a lifeboat call out.
Mr Thompson would then leave the class and be off to sort out whatever was required.
I remember the Penlee disaster well.
Brave and unselfish soles every one of them and all volunteers as well.
I ALWAYS put some money in the lifeboat fund whenever I see one.
I just think that if EVERY person who went to the seaside put just one pound in the fund,these men and women could the very best equipment, and surely that's the very least they deserve.
As someone who knows nothing about such nautical things, can someone help me with a few question after watching the docu ?
What was going to be the cost/implications if he accepted a tow from the tug ?
If he was 8 miles out ( leaving side if this was accurate ) , how short a time is it possible to drift into shore ?
What was going to be the cost/implications if he accepted a tow from the tug ?
If he was 8 miles out ( leaving side if this was accurate ) , how short a time is it possible to drift into shore ?
t that comes with being Government funded.At fair Mount's Bay, on that Christmas week
Was such a raging storm, no man could speak
That lifeboat thundered through an angry sea
Was called Solomon Browne and her company
With courage, it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
With courage, it was cold
On board that night
Now the stricken coaster called the Union Star
Her maiden voyage, she never thought that far
With Captain Moreton and his four man crew
A woman to save and her daughters two
Now, never had a lifeboat fought in vain
She could have made a dash for port but she tried again
All sixteen perished in that mighty wave
It tossed them overboard into a watery grave
With courage, it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
With courage, it was cold
On board that night
Now back at Penlee Point, time stood still
Twelve young children cried for their fathers killed
A nation shed tears for years as the news went round
The constant courage of our Solomon Browne.
With courage, it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
With courage, it was cold
On board that night
With courage, it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
With courage, it was cold
One of my fave Seth Lakeman tracks and geniunely brings a lump to my throat when I listen to it.
All those who work in the lifeboat service have my utmost repsect and admiration.
Nick
Was such a raging storm, no man could speak
That lifeboat thundered through an angry sea
Was called Solomon Browne and her company
With courage, it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
With courage, it was cold
On board that night
Now the stricken coaster called the Union Star
Her maiden voyage, she never thought that far
With Captain Moreton and his four man crew
A woman to save and her daughters two
Now, never had a lifeboat fought in vain
She could have made a dash for port but she tried again
All sixteen perished in that mighty wave
It tossed them overboard into a watery grave
With courage, it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
With courage, it was cold
On board that night
Now back at Penlee Point, time stood still
Twelve young children cried for their fathers killed
A nation shed tears for years as the news went round
The constant courage of our Solomon Browne.
With courage, it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
With courage, it was cold
On board that night
With courage, it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
With courage, it was cold
One of my fave Seth Lakeman tracks and geniunely brings a lump to my throat when I listen to it.
All those who work in the lifeboat service have my utmost repsect and admiration.
Nick
Mr_B said:
As someone who knows nothing about such nautical things, can someone help me with a few question after watching the docu ?
What was going to be the cost/implications if he accepted a tow from the tug ?
If he was 8 miles out ( leaving side if this was accurate ) , how short a time is it possible to drift into shore ?
In answer to your first question, he could forfeit his entire vessel and cargo under salvage law. The RNLI essentially undertakes that they will not claim salvage, and most people giving someone a tow into port will also forgo any rights (I towed someone in once and jokingly mentioned salvage to the skipper - he went a nasty shade of off-white What was going to be the cost/implications if he accepted a tow from the tug ?
If he was 8 miles out ( leaving side if this was accurate ) , how short a time is it possible to drift into shore ?
)In terms of your second question, it would depend on what current was running. Where I sail, at the top of the flow it's usually a maximum of 6knts on shore, but windage is generally from the South West, so that will serve to keep you away from land. So if you know the distance to land, it's easy maths to work out how long before you hit it, if you have no power/sails! I would imagine there was rather more than 6knts that night, given the wind conditions, and it was a lee shore (wind driving you towards land), so all things being equal, less than 1 hour and possibly less than half an hour.
Edited by TTwiggy on Thursday 20th December 16:31
Do they ALWAYS put out to sea, in literally any weather conditions? As in they never say "it's a bit too rough tonight lads, let's just hide behind the Health & Safety/Risk Assessment"? Unimaginably brave, total respect. I've been thinking about this all day.
They really are proper heroes, as someone above said, they deliberately and in full knowledge and forethought put themselves in harm's way- it's not a sudden rush of blood to the head on the spur of the moment (which also obviously has to be applauded). They must have known there was at least a significant risk of not coming back that night, as the Wiki article says, they didn't take the son as the father was on board.
They really are proper heroes, as someone above said, they deliberately and in full knowledge and forethought put themselves in harm's way- it's not a sudden rush of blood to the head on the spur of the moment (which also obviously has to be applauded). They must have known there was at least a significant risk of not coming back that night, as the Wiki article says, they didn't take the son as the father was on board.
RichS said:
They must have known there was at least a significant risk of not coming back that night, as the Wiki article says, they didn't take the son as the father was on board.
This is pretty much standard practice on a community crewed vessles, the sea is an unpredictable beast.Nick
RichS said:
Do they ALWAYS put out to sea, in literally any weather conditions? As in they never say "it's a bit too rough tonight lads, let's just hide behind the Health & Safety/Risk Assessment"? Unimaginably brave, total respect. I've been thinking about this all day.
They really are proper heroes, as someone above said, they deliberately and in full knowledge and forethought put themselves in harm's way- it's not a sudden rush of blood to the head on the spur of the moment (which also obviously has to be applauded). They must have known there was at least a significant risk of not coming back that night, as the Wiki article says, they didn't take the son as the father was on board.
I don't believe they've ever intentionally missed a shout. Obviously things can go wrong and it could be impossible to launch, but that would be the only scenario I could imagine. Incredible people and I'm happy to pay my membership every year.They really are proper heroes, as someone above said, they deliberately and in full knowledge and forethought put themselves in harm's way- it's not a sudden rush of blood to the head on the spur of the moment (which also obviously has to be applauded). They must have known there was at least a significant risk of not coming back that night, as the Wiki article says, they didn't take the son as the father was on board.
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