Don't mix the drink

It's New Years Eve and we wish everyone an enjoyable and safe night.

Whilst the weather is a little milder than usual, we urge party goers to stay on dry land and not mix your drinks.



Enjoy the night but stay out of the sea





Happy New Year

Maritime or Coastal Emergency , dial 999 Coastguard

The Force of the sea

Storm Frank yesterday ,shows it had a sting in the tail for the South Coast.




The cliffs are about 90 feet in height.

#Storm Frank

It's there for a reason.........

Please observe signs and taped off areas.

It's there for a reason , road flooded or tree fallen down

Don't put yourself or others at risk by ignoring it.

High Tide this morning - Storm Frank roles in

Storm Frank

Weather warnings are currently in place for coastal areas from Aberdeen to Shetland and from Stornoway, Belfast, down to Holyhead, Milford Haven and Falmouth as Storm Frank approaches.

Although additional rainfall may have an impact over land, it’s the predicted high winds that continue to cause most concern for the UK Coastguard.

Check the weather and tidal conditions before you set out so you can prepare your vessel accordingly or even ask yourself whether you should be going out at all.

Don't be tempted to go out and photographs in stormy weather No photograph or selfie is worth risking your life for.


However, as always, if you do see someone in trouble or are in trouble yourself, then call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
# Storm Frank

Flood Alert

The following flood alert has been issued by the Environment Agency for East Coast of Dorset.



Flooding is possible for Castletown, Weymouth, Preston Beach, Swanage Bay, Studland Bay, Sandbanks, Poole Harbour, Bournemouth Beach, Hengistbury Head and Christchurch Harbour.



The Flood Alert is in Force for the morning tide on Wednesday 30th December.



High tide for Swanage on the 30th December 2015 is 10.15 am (2.10 meters)



Expect strong winds, Force 8 Southerly and big waves along the exposed Dorset Coast.  Spray is likely on Coastal roads.





Be aware and careful along beaches, promenades, coastal paths and roads.

Christmas Patrol

Having had Christmas dinner number five it's was time for a big walk.......




After a visit to the chaps at the National Coastwatch it was a very careful look over the edge to see some fresh cliff falls.




Not being bird spotters this was quite a sight to see in the hover riding the strong wind looking for prey.




A winters sun......just oddly a bit warm although windy.

Boxing Day dip

Congratulations to those who took part in yesterday Boxing Day dip.

So good to see so many people turn out to watch.

Maybe next year we will take part instead of watching !

999 - when would you call?

It's Boxing Day and demand on the emergency services is traditionally high.

Do you know when it's correct to call 999?



999 should only be used in an emergency. An emergency is when there is a danger to life or risk of injury being caused.


For the Police - When there is risk of getting injured, being threatened or a crime is being committed or the someone suspected of a crime is nearby. Non emergency 101

For the Coastguard - If you get into trouble . If you see someone or find yourself in difficulty at the coast. Non Emergency 01305 760439


For the Ambulance - Always call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Non Emergency 111


For the Fire Service - there is a small fire, life is at risk, someone trapped. Non emergency 03067 990019


Please don't mis use these valuable services ..... It could be your life that depends on them.

Each service has a non emergency number.

Merry Christmas

To all our readers ,

We wish you all a very merry and safe Christmas

Thank you to all our families, friends and the local community for all their support during 2015 - without you we can't do what we do.

Take a moment to think of those working or on call today.

Thinking of taking that Christmas walk ? You may want to check the weather

And should ...... You get stuck or need the Coastguard, we are on call throughout the Christmas holidays.

Call 999 and ask for Coastguard.

Team deployed on standby to ELF

The team have just been made aware that they are on standby to provide an ELF tonight for a rather important visit that may take place tonight.

ELF - Emergency Landing Facility is a secret landing site for Father Christmas - call sign " Santa One Zero Six"

The facility is similar to a HLS - Helicopter landing Site however it requires a slightly longer landing strip to allow the reindeer to stop and take off.

The ELF is a requirement under elf and safety rules for flying which requires all reindeer a 10 minute stop in every 6 hours flown.

Progress of the visit can be monitored however it's advisable that all children are asleep or the visit might not take place.

Due to our code of conduct we shall be unable to show pictures of tonight's ELF , however it's does look similar to this picture when " Santa one zero six " arrives.

Christmas Quiz

The team turned up for training last night to discover it was a quiz night.

The team were split Into two , Kerry's Karabiners and Rogers Ropes.

50 questions on all aspects of Coastguarding with some under hand texting to find the answers from a member of the team stuck on family duties.

So here are a few questions for you. answers in a couple of days. ( Sorry no prizes for being right)


1) When is the 1st record of a Coastguard station in Swanage.

A) 1842

2) What year was the " Wild Wave" incident on Peveril Ledge.

A) 1875

3) How many incident were there In

A) 1961 A) 9
B) 1990 A) 48
C) 2010 A) 165

4) Name 3 previous Station Officers / Auxiliary in Charges.

A) Dave Gough, Ian Surface , Bill Wilson

5) What are the boundaries of the Swanage team.

A) Middlebere Farm to Dancing Ledge

6) What is JESIP.

A) Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles

7) Who is the Honorary Commodore of HM Coastguard.

A) HRH Prince Of Wales

8) In the Beaufort scale - what wind description is for 34 to 40 knots.

A) Force 8

9) Name two types of Coastguard helicopter.

A) AW139 , S92 (not budgie or Harold team!)

10) Name the class of lifeboats in the Swanage Patch.

A) Mersey , D Class, Tyne , Atlantic ( Poole side)

Looks like a rather blustery day

A trip to Studland today and it was rather wet and windy.




A very strong offshore wind, and rain showers blocking the view towards Old Harry.

Always good to check the weather forecast if you going out and remember the weather slightly off shore can be different to that stood on the beach.




Jelly Fish found on the beach at Studland

Time for the Christmas decorations ?

Leaving it to the last minute to get those decorations up?




The team recycling a Christmas tree from a couple of years ago ! It may be Christmas but the team still work to ensure they are ready to respond.

The team of volunteers here and all around the UK will be on call throughout the Christmas holidays. Make sure it's a Christmas to remember for the right reasons.

If you are walking , wear the right clothing and foot wear. Check the weather forecast and follow any signage that might divert your route.

Stay away from cliff edges and ensure someone knows where you have been and what time you are due back.

In a coastal or maritime emergency dial 999 ask for the Coastguard.

19th December 1981

On the 19th December 1981 the Penlee Lifeboat , Solomon Browne launched to the aid of the coaster Union Star after it's engines failed off the Cornish Coast.

After the lifeboat had managed to rescue four people, both vessels were lost with all hands. In all sixteen people died including the eight volunteer lifeboatman.

We shall remember them all.

Going for a walk with your dog this weekend?

Not sure what you have found ?

So over the Christmas holidays you are out on the beach and you find something that looks out of place on the beach.

Thousands of pieces of ordnance are still out at sea and wash up on the coastline of the UK.

If you find something, don't touch - call 999 and ask for Coastguard.

New Coastguard Helicopters arrive in Newquay

The new Coastguard helicopter arrived at Newquay today with the base becoming operational in January.

The Sikorsky S92 is a little larger than the Agusta Westland AW139 which we are familiar with here in Swanage.

Subject to operational requirements who know we might get this aircraft visit us ?

Swanage Coastguard of the Year

Last night was the annual Swanage Coastguard Christmas Dinner which included a couple of awards handed to team members for performance related contributions during the year.

This year the Mike "Spike" Williamson Swanage Coastguard of the year went to Brian Craker.

The award is in memory of Spike who passed away in 2004 and is awarded to the team member who puts that little extra into the team during the year.

Brian's sense of humour and input have really kept the team going this year.





congratulations Brian, well deserved.

In depth training

This week some specialist training took place at the Fire Training tower in Poole.

Keep it Clean!

We always clean and check our kit after we've used it and before it is put away, and Terry has found  novel way to make sure everyone's boots are clean before they go into the station following a muddy cliff exercise last month.

Terry's actually a bit of a demon with the pressure washer, and it has to be said, when a new one arrived on station recently it was as though all his Christmases had come at once!

What is it?

A stroll along the beach at the weekend revealed this object washed up - or more likely, uncovered by the winds and rains having been washed up or left there some years ago.

Does anyone out there know what it is or was used for?  If you do, please comment below.  Its not in the best of health, but I'm sure a spray of WD40 and some TLC should soon see it as good as new!

It is generally accepted that there's lots of spent and un-spent ordnance in and around the bay, and the stormy weather that we've seen lately often uncovers some of it and brings it into view.
If you do spot anything that you believe to be ordnance, or believe could be ordnance, do not touch it, do not pick it up, but call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Day of Rest

Last week, someone was asking for an update and some pictures of the stabilisation works underneath the Pines Hotel. 
We popped along yesterday, but being a Sunday, there wasn't a lot going on.


The seafront access point was all secured up.....

 

....with vehicles parked at the top of the ramp to the beach

At the worksite itself, a reminder that there is no longer a guaranteed all-states-of-the-tide safe route to the north end of the bay.  Anyone finding themselves cut off on the 'wrong' side of the works should look to exit the beach at Sheps Hollow

Desmond's effects on the South

Whilst we escaped the major effects of Storm Desmond it was still felt along the South.




The scene at Durlston Head yesterday afternoon.

Gale force 8 - Moderately High waves with breaking crests forming spindrift. Well marked streaks of foam are blown along wind direction. Considerable airborne spray.

Wave height 5.5 to 7.5.






Slightly quieter at Studland due to the protection of the land but still the sand was being moved at a rate.

Neil Hardy MBE - Congratulations

Our friends at Swanage Lifeboat had cause to celebrate yesterday when their Operations Manager Neil Hardy was presented with the MBE for Services to Maritime Safety at Windsor Castle.

Congratulations from all of us at HM Coastguard Swanage.

Click for further details and photo on the Swanage RNLI Facebook Page

Rest and admire

The team have all had a busy week so finally a patrol got out today.

So when this was found in the wall at Durlston, this is what what was found.  After lots of rain the paths are muddy and slippery in places.


The view looking toward Peveril , Old Harry and Bournemouth

Weather Warning

Another weather warning has been issued.




Read the weather warning.

Presentation to National Coast Watch

A couple of weeks ago we gave a presentation to the volunteers of The National Coastwatch Institution of Peveril Point.

We have a very close working relationship with NCI as they a vital declared facility to HM Coastguard.

It gave us great pleasure to present 4 new watch keepers with their certificates of competence.

Washed up

Whilst our colleagues in the Scilly Isles have been dealing with part of an American Space Rocket here in Swanage we couldn't quite beat that although last week when we were called to the washed up speed boat we found this too.




Ok so it's not a space rocket ..... Just the remains of a laser sailing dinghy.

Sadly at the time we couldn't recover either the speed boat or the sailing dinghy as the parts are too large. We will let the land owners know or if the owners can be traced they may be responsible for the clean up.

Many things get washed up and some are more hazardous that other items. If your not sure what the item is dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Weather Warning

Met Office Warnings Issued For:Dorset

1. Yellow warning of wind

   From:

   0900 on Sat 28 November

   To:

   1800 on Sun 29 November

   A blustery weekend is expected across England and Wales with winds strengthening from the west on Saturday morning. Gusts around coastlines exposed to the westerly or southwesterly winds could reach 60 mph at times. Inland gusts will be less frequent but could still reach 50 to 55 mph. Further strengthening from the west is expected on Sunday where gusts around western coasts could locally reach 70 mph. Elsewhere gusts of 60 mph are possible, particularly in western areas.
   
   Please be aware of the potential for some disruption due to the strong winds.

Coastguard Rescue Officers - This is What We Do

Every day this week, we've shown you some photos from our cliff training session last Sunday. This video shows a little more about what we do and how we do it. 

 Could you??

Happy Faces

Whilst we take our roles as volunteer Coastguard Officers seriously, its also good to enjoy ourselves as we go about our work.  These photos were taken at our cliff rescue training session last weekend.

The weather on the Friday and Saturday had turned bitterly cold with a biting wind and there was an overnight frost on the Saturday.  But, by the time Sunday arrived, the wind had dropped right off and we were treated to a glorious late November morning.