lulworth cove sibfest part deux the return - 26/27 May 2012

[lockieboi]

Well I'm all set up at pebble camp site, nice and quiet only 2 other tents here.
Finger crossed for the weather.

[xs 400]

Originally Posted by lockieboi

Well I'm all set up at pebble camp site, nice and quiet only 2 other tents here.
Finger crossed for the weather.

my fingers crossed! boat and caravan packed, will be their tomorrow about 6 ish

[little J]

ok sounds good

[longjohn]

I've just come into Poole - pretty big waves in the Swash but was fun and big overfalls off Old Harry.

This is the shipping forecast....!!

Portland
Gale warnings - Issued: 0946 UTC Fri 25 May

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Shipping Forecast - Issued: 1625 UTC Fri 25 May

Wind
Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming variable 4 in south later.
Sea State
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

[Avocet]

Don't worry: we'll be there.

[Nathan k]

good luck

[lockieboi]

Cracking day.

[Oscarguitar]

Great day,thanks everybody. We had an interesting trip back to Poole, we got involved in a RLNI rescue of 3 kayaks, David rescued the paddlers and two of the boats and Matt and I grabbed the third one and repatriated them to Studland. Very exciting.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Oscarguitar

Great day,thanks everybody. We had an interesting trip back to Poole, we got involved in a RLNI rescue of 3 kayaks, David rescued the paddlers and two of the boats and Matt and I grabbed the third one and repatriated them to Studland. Very exciting.

From swanage lifeboat pages :

Both Swanage Lifeboats was scrambled to a report of 3 kayakers in the water off Old Harry, swamped by the tidal overfalls. Both Lifeboats launched and proceeded at full speed, but as the ILB arrived it was clear that a two passing speedboats had taken the Kayakers out of danger and were transporting them back towards Poole. Both Lifeboats were able to return to station.

good work gents ! General feeling was it should have been rougher given the wind?

[longjohn]

was it calmer Lulworth way? It was fairly rough in Poole Bay

[Oscarguitar]

No it certainly wasn't calmer, although i suspect the waves were not so close together which made things a bit easier we had wind over tide as well on the way there so the outfalls were quite lively. The return journey into the wind was actually better (faster) and we stayed closer inshore which gave us a bit more shelter. Just off Swanage we had some beam seas that broke over the stern and rolled right over the motor. I was very impressed with the way the boats handled the conditions.

The rescue was interesting. We had already passed Old Harry when Avocet stopped and turned back towards Swanage. They had been monitoring Ch 16 and heard the call go out. Since they had spotted the kayakers "waving" as we passed them he knew exactly where to look. We had only just recovered the kayaks when the inshore lifeboat arrived. Very impressed at the speed at which they got there. The big lifeboat was arriving just as we were leaving. Hats off to the RNLI for their speed of response was outstanding. Also David knew the right way to handle the situation, very professional. I mainly kept out of his way and picked up the third boat.

All in all a great day out!

[willk]

People "waving" seems to be one to watch for. I once encountered a stationary bowrider full of people waving (four adults, two/three kids). From 200M away, they looked fairly happy but something prompted me to have a closer look. Turned out they were shouting "help" too! My time diving has taught me that scared, panicking people will try to look "normal" for as long as possible, not so good if you're trying to attract attention.

To counter my own theory, I've also found a Pilothouse with a family aboard, firmly aground on a rocky shore. We rushed over to assist but the guy "in command" totally blanked us - just sat there and wouldn't speak. He was waiting for the RNLI who soon turned up. I think he had "given up", he didn't really even help the RNLI volunteer get a line aboard...

Good catch on the Kayakers, guys!

[Avocet]

As mentioned by Oscarguitar, Poole Bay was calm relative to what was west of Old Harry and, in particular, the stretch between Lulworth and Portland where the waves wern't particularly high but were sharp and very confused. We had at least three waves over the boat which drenched all four of us but we quickly dried out in the sunshine and with the warm wind (who would have thought that a strong easterly at this time of year would be so hot?)

The sea state was such that there was no way the SIBs were going to make it to Lulworth so we settled for Weymouth instead. Even on that short trip, there some exciting moments for the small boats! It was nice to meet up with the others, although a shame we got separated in the Wemouth crowds and ended up in different pubs!

The kayak rescue was pretty straightforward but the kayakers themselves were in a bit of shock. They (unwisely) decided to round Old Harry where one of them capsized and the inflatable one started losing air. He tried to reinflate it with a pump which he then lost overboard (we later recovered it for him on the way back). They then discovered that the easterly wind was such that they couldn't return back to Studland. With no VHF (from which we would have head their Mayday and have got to them quicker), they telephoned the coastguard. By the time the CG shout went out, we had already rounded Old Harry and had to turn back through the overfalls again. The Swanage ILB was, indeed, on the scene very quickly but they were already out on exercise in Swanage Bay. Even so, we had the kayakers already on board and the kayaks stowed by the time they arrived.

Whilst we missed our objective of escorting the SIBs to Lulworth (where we called in on the way back for a brief break), it was a great day out and we had the satisfaction of helping some very grateful kayakers

[longjohn]

Was in two minds wether to come along - but decided that the winds and waves would have made it more of a penance than an enjoyable trip! Think I made the right decision - even if it was the woos's decision lol

[bingosucks]

really disapointed to miss it ,but had to work late friday night...the only problem being midlands based is the time it takes to travel .... still the photo`s look great and how cool to carry out a real life rescue, pat on the back all around

[Oscarguitar]

Longjohn, you should have let me know, as usual 'nobby' here had plenty of space! Matt H defected and came with me on the way back but I could easily have managed another one!

[xs 400]

Wow what a day, rough but fun!

today I ache all over watch the video and youll see why!

thanks again avocet ( matt h) and oscar guitar (big boys) excellant news about the rescue

great to meet little j and Emma , lockeiboi and vicky , dek ( and Dave) ,
and
shame you didn't make it bingo sucks

and to " the man with the tornado" join Ribnet and join the next sibfest !!! send me a pm.

to the legend of a pub singer "Barry" thanks for the entertainment !!

looking forward to the next one..................who's next

[xs 400]

ribnet sibfest portland to lulworth or not - YouTube

[BigDipper]

Sorry we could not join you as it sounds like you had a great time, but we ended up being marshals for the big race from Bournemouth giving diving and first aid cover as my father and I are both coded skippers and qualified diving instructors. I hope you will forgive us and let us join you next time!! Our bad luck as it looks from the pictures and write up that you probably had much more fun than us.

[longjohn]

Originally Posted by Oscarguitar

Longjohn, you should have let me know, as usual 'nobby' here had plenty of space! Matt H defected and came with me on the way back but I could easily have managed another one!

Thanks - wish I had