Solent rescue new boat?

InlandAlex · 25 June 2019, 12:27

Hi All,

It seems Solent Rescue are selling their almost brand new Gemini WR880! Because “the reality is that she is far more boat than Solent Rescue Independent Lifeboat Organisation require to swiftly and safely service their stretch of the Solent and so she is being sold in favour of a considerably smaller open rib that can be easily beach launched and operated from the boat house.”

Anyone here who can give any more info? Especially since their website and social media don’t mention it at all.

Read more here: https://www.geminiwr880.co.uk

InlandAlex

Fender · 25 June 2019, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by InlandAlex

Hi All,

It seems Solent Rescue are selling their almost brand new Gemini WR880! Because “the reality is that she is far more boat than Solent Rescue Independent Lifeboat Organisation require to swiftly and safely service their stretch of the Solent and so she is being sold in favour of a considerably smaller open rib that can be easily beach launched and operated from the boat house.”

Anyone here who can give any more info? Especially since their website and social media don’t mention it at all.

Read more here: https://www.geminiwr880.co.uk

InlandAlex

This was news a few months ago and discussed on here

InlandAlex · 25 June 2019, 12:51

Hi Fender,

Thanks good to know. Could you tell me where?

Simonh66 · 25 June 2019, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender

This was news a few months ago and discussed on here

I believe its now under offer

InlandAlex · 25 June 2019, 16:12

Anyone know whether they’ve planned anything for their next boat?

GuyC · 25 June 2019, 19:34

https://www.solent-rescue.org.uk/boats

An ex RNLI D Class has apparently been purchased.

InlandAlex · 25 June 2019, 19:38

Interesting... though maybe that’s the replacement for their smaller boat as I believe they had a smaller SIB before?

I can’t imagine they’d replace a 9m cabin rib with a 5m SIB, no matter how much they were looking to downsize!

willk · 25 June 2019, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by InlandAlex

I can’t imagine they’d replace a 9m cabin rib with a 5m SIB, no matter how much they were looking to downsize!

Oh I dunno - maybe Plummy is on the Committee!

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/i-think-...big-81695.html

Orwell boy · 25 June 2019, 21:24

Reckon its all down to that Solent chop again

SixtyNorth · 25 June 2019, 21:32

Just out of interest, what is their defined area of operation? I would imagine that a D class would be quite useful in that part of the world. I wonder why they bought the big RIB in the first place, you would expect a lot of thought and research to go into such decisions.

Ferryman · 25 June 2019, 22:28

Their area is the edge of the New Forest, the north west of the Solent. A D class should be perfect - there are inshore RNLI stations in Cowes and Calshot and a Severn class in Yarmouth. I'm not sure why they bought the big rib.

willk · 25 June 2019, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferryman

I'm not sure why they bought the big rib.

Because "Big is Beautiful" and a few ambitious chaps on the committee wanted a pair of big throttles in their mitt. After the hassle and the cost and the horror and fear of approaching casualties blind in a very poorly windowed cabin boat, they realised an open RIB was more appropriate. Not to mention the cost of planing that thing and waiting for 18kts to arrive.... Oh, and the boarding boat - it was so good that it was barely worth transferring to the mungo cabin RIB to effect a rescue 300m down the shore.

You'll realise that I'm just guessing, obviously

ShinyShoe · 26 June 2019, 08:39

Its a very Solent thing to be out on "patrol"... ...I imagine a cabin rib is far nicer for patrolling on usual British Weather days. I imagine last summer it was awful!

If you look at their 'shouts' on their website - they have quite a few "Over heard Mayday on CH16, responded. Notified HMCG we were responding. Stood down as a nearer resource was tasked"... ...I think they thought if we have a boat that can do silly speeds we can get on-scene quicker than the local RNLI boat can get paged, launched and get there. HMCG would possibly be greatful in a genuine Mayday. But since 80% of Solent Maydays are probably not even PanPan grade (I've run out of fuel and just realised there is no handbrake on a boat) - taking a resource away from one place to then attend and tow for an hour is perhaps not the best solution...

They seem to have a fancy 4x4, that they have bought but not equipped. Its like they have money so they have to spend it.

SixtyNorth · 26 June 2019, 10:38

If there were sufficient rescue units in the area and they were often being stood down prior to reaching the casualty, would it not raise the question 'are we needed at all' rather than 'we need a faster boat!'?

It is not as if SAR should be some kind of game or competition between the various services.

Fender · 26 June 2019, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

But since 80% of Solent Maydays are probably not even PanPan grade (I've run out of fuel and just realised there is no handbrake on a boat) - taking a resource away from one place to then attend and tow for an hour is perhaps not the best solution...

Really?? - you've got first hand experience of the south coast and Solent coastguard statistics?? Otherwise what a dumb thing to say

We heard two maydays Saturday, both in around the Solent area and a imminent threat to life / machinery which, for the uneducated constitutes a may-day call. One was a 24m motor boat on fire, the cheek of involving the emergency services.......................

Simonh66 · 26 June 2019, 14:50

https://www.solent-rescue.org.uk/?fb...FefKAAxzP73_ms

ShinyShoe · 26 June 2019, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender

Really?? - you've got first hand experience of the south coast and Solent coastguard statistics?? Otherwise what a dumb thing to say

We heard two maydays Saturday, both in around the Solent area and a imminent threat to life / machinery which, for the uneducated constitutes a may-day call. One was a 24m motor boat on fire, the cheek of involving the emergency services.......................

Thank you for educating us on what constitutes a Mayday.

A motorboat on fire I have absolutely no question about. I'm basing my 80% on my own personal experience of the Solent from probably up to about 2 years ago - admittedly during weekends not 24/7. But with reasonable consistency there would frequently be mayday calls for yachts with lost engines (because obviously sails don't actually work), boats running aground on rising tides with no ingress of water, boats on moorings/at anchor unable to restart the engine...

The thought of anchoring seemed alien to those who develop engine failure. Once they were asked to anchor their mayday becomes nothing more than an inconvenience. Why would you want a fast asset out of area dealing with an inconvenience.

InlandAlex · 26 June 2019, 18:34

I believe their area is quite a small bit of the Solent, as there seems to be about 8 different lifeboats along it.

I’m wondering whether they got carried away with ordering the big 50knt rib after a very successful fundraising campaign. Seems quite excessive indeed. The RNLI cope with 35knts!

Poly · 26 June 2019, 18:43

You can’t beat some rampant internet speculation on why people decided something. Circumstances change. Organisations involve people. People make mistakes. Rules are (mis)interpreted.

InlandAlex · 26 June 2019, 19:00

Sorry Poly, I’ll try to tone it down a bit in future.

But the question still stands. Wasn’t there a chap on here who was with Solent Rescue and documented the manufactur of the boat to us all?