Cabin Cruiser secured in Bay

The team were just packing up from training on Thursday when they became alerted to a cabin cruiser moored in an unusual position off the boat park slipway with its navigation lights on but nobody on board.

Concerned that someone might have fallen in the water, the team first  boarded the boat to look for any occupants and then conducted a shoreline search. With nothing found, and with advice from the lifeboat cox and 2nd cox, extra mooring ropes were added to the boat to protect it against the incoming Easterly winds.
Using the registration number and name on the boat, the team were able identify the owner who confirmed he was safe and well.

The CG66 is an HM Coastguard registration form whereby owners can voluntarily register their boat details with the Coastguard in order that they can be contacted if the need arises. Google 'CG66 Scheme' and register yours now!

Running on Empty

Minutes before the Firework Display last night a member of public alerted the team - via the local police - to a small boat on the main beach with a leaking fuel tank, causing petrol to be spilled onto the beach.

On investigation, the tender's outboard engine fuel tap had been left on and, owing to the angle that the engine had been cocked over, petrol had steadily dripped into the boat itself rather than onto the beach.

Whilst the team tried to identify an owner, the tap was turned off and some sand scattered inside the boat to soak up the puddles of fuel; the petrol smell was really strong at this time.  Finally, the area was taped off as a precaution.



When the owners returned, they confirmed that the whole tank had drained, and made a note to be more vigilant in turning the fuel off next time. Fortunately they had more petrol on their yacht, but it did mean having to row back instead, the rowing duties being given to the chap who'd forgotten the tap in the first place!

Sadly, the owners hadn't completed and registered a CG66 form, otherwise we may have been able to track them down earlier.  This is a voluntary register kept by HM Coastguard which helps us to identify boat owners when boats are missing, stolen, found, washed up or otherwise in difficulty.  Why not register yours today?

CG66 - Why not register now.

On Saturday, in the space of only 30 minutes the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) were co-ordinating rescue or assistance to 5 separate boats that had broken down - all within 10 miles of Swanage.

So how do we know who is who? 

Well every boat should have a name - a callsign - and it makes it a whole lot easier if the boat details are logged with the Coastguard on a CG66

So is Big Brother always watching us?....well yes.... and sometimes it is watching over us in a good way.

The Maritime Coastguard Agency have a voluntary sceheme called CG66- The Voluntary Safety Identification Scheme.

If you are at sea and get into difficulty and you are unable to raise assistance, is there anyone ashore who knows what to do if you fail to return at your estimated time?

Would a friend or relative know who to contact? Would they have sufficient detail about your vessel and your likely whereabouts to be able to assist the Coastguard to locate you?

Would it not be a comfort to know that when you set out, the Coastguard has the details of your vessel on a database that is accessible to all Coastguard Co-ordination Centres throughout the UK so that they have the information they need to mount a search and rescue operation should you get into difficulty? 

Quite simply, join HM Coastguard's CG66 Voluntary Safety Identification Scheme. You can join online. Forms can also be obtained from any Coastguard Co-ordination Centre or Sector Base, MCA Marine Office, RNLI boathouse; or look out for them in your Local Marina or Sailing Club.

The scheme is free and is for the benefit of the owners and skippers of all types of leisure vessels and small craft including kayaks.

Information provided on the CG66 will only be used for Search and Rescue and Safety purposes.

Please register online now.

Boathooks ....

After the careless devastating loss of the boathook in the Swanage storm this weekend I decided to cheer myself up by buying my nephew his birthday present, he’s 3. 

After a bit of research I found a Playmobil fishing boat. Behold:-

Ariane- with fisherman chappie.

It was delivered today and I’ve resisted the temptation to play check all the bits are there.

Not a bad little boat really, ok ok…. so it’s not as good as San Gina 2 although the fisherman does look a bit like it's skipper (local fisherman and lifeboatman) Tom Greasty, what with his jeans , stubble, lumberjack shirt and knife? knife? He’s a fisherman not some cut-throat pirate.

Anyway I checked the back of the box. Wow, readers, a serious wow! look at play value all the kit he’s got onboard:-

Bucket

Life ring (very good!)

Fish Boxes x2

Fenders x4

Bog Standard Seagull – i.e. Herring Gull 

3 Salmon? Actually they might be Bass or a load of Pollocks.

Lobster

Crab

Fishing Rod, with line.

Oh no, seriously?

Oh, oh, I’m welling up, tears in my eyes, …he’s only got a ….. I can’t bring myself to say it …….a b,b,b,   boathook! Yes, the Playmobil Tom Greasty lookalike fisherman chappie has only got a boathook!! 

…..which is one more boathook than the Swanage Coastguard Team currently have!

I might register the boat on a CG66 just in case it sinks in the bath.

*Other plastic based toy things made by Germans are also available.

Landing Craft

With the strong easterly wind yesterday, this boat made a landing on the main beach by punch and Judy.

The owner arrived and managed to refloat his craft.

Having a CG66 form registered with the Coastguard will help speed up the process of locating an owner of a boat and advising them of a situation. Forms are available on the main MCA website or flag down a passing Coastguard.