A Monthly Publication

By Geoff Needham

On the 14th August 2009 at 2051 hrs Yar. CG requested launch of Hunstanton Lifeboat to go to the aid of a cabin cruiser reported to have fouled his propeller in the Freeman channel some 12 mls west of the L/boat station with two person's on board and needed assistance, his only means of communication were by mobile telephone and a torch, he was not sure of his exact position, during the search the L/boat crew put up a flare and the CG asked if he saw the flare, yes came the reply its behind us!  The CG were unable to DF him as he did not have a VHF radio, this resulted in a prolonged search over a large area hampered by shallow water's as the tide was a neap tide, high water at 0057 hrs 5.7 mtrs, among the smaller tides in the Wash, and the fact that his mobile phone and torch went flat, like looking for a needle in a haystack,  Boston Pilot cutter also assisted using his radar to sweep the area to no avail,  at around 0030 hrs Helicoptor Rescue 125 arrived on scene to assist the search, at 0105hrs Rescue 125 located the casualty some 8 to 10 mls from his reported position, and relayed the position to the L/boat, Res. 125 stood by untill the L/boat arrived to take the vessel in tow, by this time the tide was ebbing and the L/boat was faced with a 14 ml tow around the banks to take the vessel into Boston, ariving at Boston at 0400 hrs some seven hrs after launching,, this had been a long search caused by the lack of proper equipment and the lack of the correct co-ordinates given by the vessel in distress, Helmsman Ian phoned the station stating that they were getting low on fuel, it was arranged for H-003 our hovercraft to rendezvous with B-749 and take out enough fuel to get back to station, both craft arrived back at station at 0830 hrs, the journey home H-003 was experiencing choppy seas as the wind speed had increased close  to its operational guidelines but they informed the Boathouse that they were coping and were OK.  our longest shout lasting just on 12 hrs

Tuesday 18th August  1445 hrs the L/boat launched to report of two teenage girls cut off by rising tide at Brancaster wreck sands, it was reported the girls were standing on the sandbank several hundred yards out, and as the bank dissapeared under the rising tide they started to swim back to the beach across the channel, a very dangerous practice as the tidal current in the channel is pretty strong, however they made it, and were met by their parents and the local CG and given a talking to, once it was established that no other persons were involved B-749 returned to station

Wednesday 19th August was a busy day for all stations along our coastline with reports of lost children and inflatables being blown out to sea.  At 1415 hrs H-003 was launched to assist in search for two missing children age 4 yrs and 5 yrs, these were found by KLWNBC beach patrols and reunited with their parents.

At 1715 hrs B-749 was launched to report of a canoe thought to be in trouble, L/boat crew confirmed that the occupants were fishing for mackeral and were OK and returned to station.  During the afternoon a number of  parents reported to the L/Boat station having been parted from their children, fortunately they were reunited without to much trouble.

Sunday 23rd August at 0850 hrs Yar CG requested launch of the L/boat in response to a MAY DAY call from  a Kayak needing assistance while crossing the Wash from Skegness to Hunstanton, the L/boat arrived on scene at 0920 hrs and reported that they had the casualties on board and would bring them back to the station, two Kayaks were involved and one person was experiencing a severe bout of seasickness due to the rougher conditions in the centre of the Wash caused by a strong SW wind against the tide, both were fully equipped for their journey, having proper sea going Kayaks, suits, life jackets, flares and a VHF radio thus making their rescue very quick and positive, both were exceedingly grateful to our crew, they were brought back to the B/house given a hot drink and were both OK, the message is clear if you go to sea, go properly equipped it helps us to help you.

At 1435 hrs H-003 was tasked to assist in a shoreline search for missing 4 yr old boy last seen playing near the waters edge, H-003 searched along the tide line and at 1459 Yar CG confirmed the child had been found and H-003 was stood down to return to station.

Monday 31st August at 1110 hrs L/boat was launched to report of a kite surfer in trouble off Old Hunstanton, B-749 launched on service on arrival it was reported that the person had made it to shore but his kite and board were still at sea, the L/boat crew recovered these and brought them back to the beach.

Tuesday 1st September 2009 1000 hrs Yar CG requested launch in response to a mobile phone call from the yacht Leona stating that he had run aground on the Black Bouy sand and was dismasted, and required assistance, B-749 was launched on service to the casualty, the crew had to take the long way round as the tide was ebbing fast, on arrival they found the yacht high and dry and Vic one of our longest serving crew had about a mile to walk to him across the sands, Vic helped him lay out an anchor to secure the vessel, in the meantime the L/boat had come round the channel and had got closer to the casualty, the owner  got together a few belonging's and was taken on the L/boat and brought back to the boathouse as the weather forecast was for severe weather later that day, we contacted the seamans mission and spoke to Rev Peter Glanville who made arrangements  for one nights accommodation at the Coach House Thornham thanks to Helen and Steve, it is understood the vessel was his home and he was on passage from Fosdyke to the Norfolk Broads when misfortune befell him, and had no where to go untill arrangements could be made to recover his yacht, Boston Harbour Authorities towed the vessel into Boston later that evening.

At 1740 the L/boat was requested by the CG to a report of a yacht thought to be in trouble off Hunstanton B-749 launched and went alongside the yacht where it was established that a sudden squall had hit them and he had deployed a drouge to help steady him as he was running before the wind, he was heading for Burnham Overy and was OK  B-749 returned to station.

Thurs. 10th Sept. 1009 hrs.Yar CG requested Launch of Hunstanton L/boat to assist catamaran that had capsized off Hunstanton, crew assisted owner to right catamaran, also picked up two persons in inflatable dinghy who were in danger of being swept out to sea and landed them ashore, also maki ng sure catamaran made it to the beach.

Key facts about The RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea.  Its volunteers provide a 24 hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.  The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 140 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK.  The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.  Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives.