Dolphins

Dolphins are regular visitors to Swanage. They are highly intelligent animals, sensitive to disturbance but can easily be hit.



Dolphin and Calf off Durlston March 2011
Photo: Julian Sawyer

More recent photographs can be found on Julian's Blog - Purbeck Footprints.

If dolphins approach your craft or bowride, maintain a slow speed and course until clear. Dolphins should never be chased or harassed in an attempt to make them bowride. If you are going out on the water, please follow these simple guidelines:-

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, (as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000) it is an offence to kill or injure cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises and whales) or to disturb cetaceans. To do so intentionally or recklessly may result in prosecution. To report such incidents to the Police Marine Section call 101.

If you do see some why not log them online for the Durlston Marine Project .

Lego Coastguard

Coastguard Bravo was sent this photo of the Coastguard Station at Legoland.

It appears that a watch is being maintained

...although it does appear that a child has been eaten by a shark.

Credit: N Sharpe

Looks like he should do some more training at Lego Coastguard School.

A pipe , a yacht and an upturned kayak

A mystery item in the cliff had the team paged to investigate.

The possible ordnance had turned up near to Sheps Hollow , thankfully both Steve and Roger quickly identified it as a clay pipe - part of an old drainage system.

Thankfully it was a good call by the member of the public who reported it.

The patrol then went out and monitoring the Coastguard channel heard that there was a possible yacht aground at the entrance to Poole harbour. Being in Studland they proceeded and confirmed the location for the NMOC.

Having just packed away the whole team were paged for a report of a upturned kayak off Ocean Bay, thankfully several members of the team confirmed this was moored and had been there for a while. The team were stood down.

Another form of transport

Having realised the Land Rover wasn't going to fit in the garage and that step up was just too big for some of us - we returned the keys.

We carried on and spoke to some amazing mountain rescue and cave rescue teams that span the country.

Kerry discovered a mountain bike and now wants to set up a Coastguard Bike Response Team.

Roger wasn't quite so sure about that saddle.

So that left just the Station Officer working out how to get home.

Well thanks to this charitable trust who work with Devon and Cornwall Police one of these kit cars will do.

These kits are supplied in Devon and Cornwall to primary and secondary schools.

Well job done - fits in garage and low step in.

Any one seen Kerry and Roger ? Last seen heading south with Roger sat on handle bars?

Swanage Coastguard on Tour

A delegation from the team headed north to Birmingham this week to the Emergency Services Show at the NEC.

The range of equipment , knowledge and skills is massive and such an opportunity to see what is available.

Of course the team had a mission statement of gather what you can especially if it's free.

Good effort Rog and Kerry who collected the keys to this brand new Coastguard Vehicle which was part of the Coastguard stand - beat my free pen from that other stall !

Anvil Point Rescue - What the Cliff Edge Safety Officers Saw

As the two teams set up on Saturday at Anvil Point - this is what the Cliff Edge Safety Officers saw from the top looking down.

As the helicopter winchman and RNLI crew were ashore the teams stood by at the top.

After the injured male had been airlifted the team monitored and assisted the climbers colleague back to his car so he could get to meet his friend.

Purbeck Marathon - Coastguard support race

Coastguard teams from Swanage, St Albans and Kimmeridge headed out this morning to support the organisers of the Purbeck Marathon.

Part of the course follows the coastal path so the Coastguard teams monitor the runners to ensure their safety.

With over 500 competitors the race started at 9.30 with a further half marathon starting at 10.00

A special mention of the Deputy Station Officer from St Albans , Ian Bugler who took the challenge up and along with all the runners was cheered on. Sadly our very own Brian who claimed he was taking part twisted his ankle so rested!

Team Work

It takes a few partner agencies to carry out a rescue.

HM Coastguard - the coordinators of the incident.

HM Coastguard Swanage and St Albans Rescue Teams - boots on the ground! rope rescue teams

RNLI - Swanage All Weather Lifeboat and inshore lifeboat declared facility to HM Coastguard

Rescue 104 - air asset

NHS - medical treatment (not in the photo)

The picture - Roger and Kerry, Cliff edge safety officers , have moved away from the cliff having cleared the ledge of climbers and climbing equipment. This was to allow the aircraft to operate safely and not cause the down wash from the rotors to blow anyone away.

Meanwhile the winchman and RNLI crew tended to the injured climber below.

Climber airlifted from Anvil Point

This afternoon both the Swanage and St Albans Coastguard teams, Rescue 104 and both Swanage RNLI lifeboats were tasked to Anvil Point for a climber who had fallen 18ft.

The climber sustained serious back injuries in the fall and has been airlifted by Coastguard helicopter to Southampton hospital.

Blog Formatting

Apologies but it appears the format of the blog page has gone a little funny. It's something on the blogger server rather than anything we (or you ;-) ) have done.

We will see if it self corrects over the weekend, If not, yours truly will be writing a new template!

##update - I think we might have cracked it!

On the Move

The cliffs to the North of Sheps Hollow continue to slip: This recent fall is about 200m away from the access steps and makes getting cut off a real possibility for beach users in that area.

Always check the tide times!

Mix up

I was sent this text this morning from Coastguard Echo.

A little bit personal I thought ... but as a mate I provided him some useful advice.

..and then I realised that he was actually looking for a second team member (a number two) to provide IRT (Initial Response Team) cover this morning. 

In all seriousness whilst we don't use a rota ;-) (honestly coastguard hq we definitely don't have a rota) we like to make sure that at least two of the team are immediately available at all times - that's 24/7 every day of the year. 

The rest of the team remain on standby - again that's 24/7 every day of the year.

It's a huge commitment, and one we undertake unpaid as volunteers; this is only possible because of the support of our families and employers. 

So how do we work out who will be on IRT cover? ...well that's a secret but it's definitely not a rota. 

Coastguard Teams called to Durlston

Both the Swanage and St Albans Coastguard teams were tasked this morning to a report of a dog over the cliff between the zig zag and Durlston Head.

As the teams proceeded a further call was received from the owner to say the dog had safely made it back up the cliff.

It was only training

Residents at Peveril Point may have been concerned at 9pm that the Coastguard helicopter was hovering next to the lookout.

Despite the conditions the crew of 104 from Lee on Solent were on a training flight carrying out winching.






Picture Sophie Brown

Weather Warning

Heavy rain has returned with the Met Office issuing a weather warning.

Battle of Britain Day - Swanage Flypast Times

www.battleofbritainday.co.uk

Update !! 
Weather delay - take off now 14:00 - flight @ Swanage at 14:46.

Today is the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. A group of 40 Hurricanes, Spitfires and Blenheims will take off in waves from Goodwood Aerodrome and fly towards Selsey Bill before breaking into wings of four planes to fly formations across the South.

Swanage will be on the pink section route -takeoff from Goodwood at 12:28 so expect a Flypast (weather permitting) around 13:00.  Old Harry or Ballard would make great places to see this. 

Follow Live on Twitter.

Goodbye Graham

A very sad day , but a day of thanksgiving to someone who served the community of Swanage in many ways.

From us all Graham , rest in peace.

999 call for possible swimmer in trouble

The team were tasked this afternoon when a sharp eyed member of the public spotted a male swimming after his Kayak which was being blown out to sea.

The team arrived to start searching near to the house boats at Shell Bay when they saw someone packing an inflatable kayak into their vehicle.

Very quickly it was established this was the person reported in trouble and all was well. The male confirmed he had been packing his equipment away when the strong wind blew the kayak out to sea.

The man was most grateful to the Coastguard and the member of public for reporting the incident.

Coastguard called to assist Ambulance at Studland

The team were called to assist colleagues in the Ambulance Service on Studland beach today.

A male needed to be evacuated from the beach and originally the team were requested to help with the long carry to the road ambulance.

The paramedics requested the Air Ambulance so the team set up a safe landing area along with staff from the National Trust.

We would thank the public for their assistance during this incident.

Keep dogs on leads

Our colleagues down at West Bay carried out a dog rescue over the weekend. With the sunny weather arrived please do keep your dogs on leads near cliff edges.

Coastguard search and rescue: Got what it takes to join us?

Merchant Navy Day 03 September

Today is Merchant Navy Day!

Whilst we don't have a Red Ensign to hand- we'll fly our Coastguard Flag in support.

The Red Ensign is raised outside the Maritime and Coastguard Agency HQ each day, but for Merchant Navy Day, CEO Sir Alan Massey read out a message to staff from the Earl of Wessex to seafarers to celebrate and remember those who work at sea.

Temporary Closure of the High Street

We have been made aware that the High Street will be closed tomorrow for urgent road repairs.

The Closure will be in place to cover an area from Manwell Lane to the junction of Priests Road.

Diversions will be in place - the closure is due between 9am and 12pm.

Mystery object sighted in sky

A strange ball of fire in the sky confirmed today that summer was officially over and autumn has arrived.

It also confirmed that today is a work day for most and that perhaps next year book the day after the bank holiday to actually get a dry day ?