Weekend Update

This page was updated on: Saturday, June 5, 2010

Saturday 17th April 2010

Today’s afternoon training exercises involved recovering live MOB and using the floating spinal board.

Later that afternoon VR4 was tasked with towing a laser 2 sailing dinghy back to the Hamble when the crew found themselves struggling at Lepe with no way of getting back against the tide and wind. Helmsman Aaron Smith (16) and Crewman Dan Wells (18) were tasked with successfully delivering the boat back to the Hamble. This was Aarons first incident In charge of the boat and crew and he performed well successfully completing his small mission before returning to Lepe.

With the above tow taking place a gentleman came up to the control room and advised that his dog had become trapped under a bridge. Our Alpha crew immediately realised he meant the sluice gate where fast flowing water goes through a tunnel under the road before going through a grid out to sea. The dog had indeed been swept by the fast flowing current under the road and was now trapped by the grid.

Three of our Alpha crew donned the appropriate dry / safety gear, placed safety lines and carefully entered the water to free the 8 month old dog which was then taken back to control to be dried of before being returned to its grateful owner with the advice that a trip to see the vet for a check up might be in order.

Sunday 18th April 2010

More training was completed for the upcoming Search and Rescue coxswains and three new recruits were taken afloat to begin boat familiarisation and start learning the many new skills they will acquire during their time with the Training academy, fortunately the day passed without incident.