Annual Report 2007

This page was updated on: Sunday, October 18, 2009

I am feeling very proud of my teenage Venturers, who have shown that given the training, equipment, opportunity and trust.

They can provide a valuable service for the adult world on both land and sea. With 49 recorded rescues in the log, three of which had lives at risk.

Their very high standard of seamanship best illustrated from letters received. A grateful yachtsman who after a rope fouled his propeller, and was driven ashore wrote; "Immediately we were spotted from your lookout, and your Rescue Boats were on the scene.

The smaller one brought in a towline from the larger which towed us clear.

I felt I was in the hands of a professional rescue team in a display of excellent seamanship and teamwork. You followed this up by taking my wife and five children back to your lookout and loaned them your MPV for them to drive to Buckers Hard.

Meanwhile in calmer waters you freed the rope, and I was able to motor up to meet them.

Another wrote: "your prompt professional approach made light of the disaster when my engine caught fire.

They carried out the rescue in an organised and safe way putting my family at ease and reducing the distress my grandchildren experienced when the engine blew up.

Only too often modern youth is ridiculed for being lazy and causing trouble and showing no respect for their elders. Your crew on Thursday were none of this and should be commended.

The Coxswain on both rescues was aged 16, and had just passed the RYA Power and Rescue Boad Instructors exams, which the two other mature adults on the course failed.

Not all rescues are so dramatic; I like the story of the motorboat that ran out of fuel. He had a Hi-tech electronic management system which showed rate of flow, amount of fuel left, and calculated how far he could travel at various speeds.

There is no substitute for a good old eyeball dipstick, which we fit to our Rescue Ribs. Had a nice cartoon from a crew of a yacht which capsized and sank. "We went overboard; but you were there"

The kite boarder who was a poor swimmer was lucky to be spotted out in rough seas, after his kite was blown away.

Two small boys in a toy boat drifting offshore and towards breaking seas onto the notorious shingle bank, perhaps had a lucky escape.

One non lifesaving service we are able to provide for the Coastguard is the search for large floating objects which could be a danger to navigation.

One reported branch turned out to be a whole tree. Which we towed ashore and being too heavy to move out of reach of high tide was then cut up into smaller pieces and taken away.

We do not accept cash donations for help given; but give them a card which tells them who we are, and would be grateful if they send a donation to our HQ to cover the cost of fuel used. Most do; but some still take advantage of our cadets' willingness to help.

The Ketch "Alice" which ran aground in the Beaulieu River and was towed all the way to Buckers Hard, several weeks later he contacted the Harbour Master to ask if the Venturers could meet him at the river mouth as he was sailing from Cowes and had engine failure.

Again towed all the way up to Bucklers Hard, again given a card but no word since. As was a fishing boat with engine failure off Lepe, towed all the way up the River Hamble our crew not getting back until 23.00 hrs.

Promised to send a donation; but forgot. However, we welcome these tows as each is an opportunity to put training into practice, and on some rescues is a test of seamanship, initiative and sometimes courage.

First aid incidents on land included a lady who fell off her cycle and fractured her wrist, a small girl with something in her eye, a small boy with a deep head wound after slipping on rocks, the usual stings and bites, which call more for sympathy than treatment.

We still suffer from a form of jealousy from adults who resent teenagers taking a leading role in rescue.

One complained to the Coastguard, that we had put our cadets' lives at risk in launching our small beach rescue rib to run a kedge anchor out to a yacht in danger of coming ashore.

The writer alleged we had launched in "WSW Force 6-7, locally rough, rain and poor visibility". Photographs taken during the incident showed almost calm seas, and the IOW visible four miles away.

We sent the evidence to the Coastguard, but still not sure which side of the complaint they believe.

Although we still work very well with them as an "Additional Facility". As we have crews under 18, under Health and Safety they are not allowed to make us a Declared Facility which they can request to assist, but under Solas 5 any vessel is bound to help another vessel in distress they can accept our offer of assistance, and nearly always do.

Good news, The Queen's Silver Jubilee Trust made a donation to replace our very ancient Bedford Ambulance, which has gone to a collector in Poland, and purchase a good but used Range Rover Ambulance for only L3500.

That, together with a donation from the Dibden Allotment Charity, and RWR n Power Fawley also replaced our safety helmets, which was mentioned in our 2006 Annual Report. Sad news about our new Typhoon Dry Suits, they are of poor quality with seams coming apart and most crews are getting wet from leaks.

With our increase in membership, we needed a second Training/Rescue Rib.

We purchased a Humber 6.5 metre hull and tubes, and fitted it out in our own workshops, not only saving cash, but also used our experience in getting the ergonomics right, and the cadets gaining experience, and perhaps pride in the resulting finished project.

We had an invitation to attend the Southern California and Las Vegas Landrover Club Rally, and thanks to a private sponsor, were able to ship our Landrover on a cheap Rollo Ferry to Port Hueneme California (which works out cheaper than hiring a Jeep out there, and just not the same as our much travelled British Landrover).

We made a great number of friends, and in Venturers tradition our bugler played 'Taps" at sunset as we lowered our flag, which always drew an appreciated crowd. Not so popular was Reveille at the crack of dawn.

We also took the opportunity to explore the back country, and almost got into trouble when the rubber mounting engine bush failed and the engine dropped onto the prop shaft.

30 miles out in the doon dogs it looked like we might have to use our GPS emergency distress beacon, which being registered to our Rescue Boat with Falmouth Coastguard, the location might have raised a few eyebrows.

However, when it comes to emergency repairs, I am not called "Tiffy" for nothing. For the first time in my life super glue which normally only sticks to my fingers, made a bond sufficient to get us back to civilisation.

We also stopped at a small town that advertised a hot spring built in the manor of a Roman Bath. The only snag state law forbids wearing any clothes, which would contaminate the water, and you had to soap and shower first.

I did try to get the boys exempt, as at their age they suffer from embarrassment, but the rules allowed no exceptions. However, as I was coming away from the spring, the lure of clear hot and cool waters overcame their modesty.

Once again I would like to thank the Charitable Trusts, and private individuals without whose support we could not exist, and would mention in the case of private donations if you mention in your letter that its given under "Gift Aid" we can extract 25% of the value of your gift as a rebate from the Chancellor.

Yours sincerely,

"Commodore" Philip G Pearce-Smith MBE, VSC

PS note this is a courtesy title as a reward for 46 years service and venerable old age.