penlee lifeboat disaster

[Keith Tindell]

Just a quick heads up, on BBC4 at 2000 hrs tonight is another showing of the doc of the Penlee disaster, a factual but very sad disaster. Lots of radio messages and lifeboat, and helicopter footage,. i saw the program first time around, but some may not have seen it, kt

[robpage]

if it is the one shown ten or twelve years ago for the 25th anniversary it was well worth watching , I always wondered if the tug Noord Holland's first offer under Lloyds open form had been taken , the result may have been different , but you can never get hindsight when you need it

[Keith Tindell]

Yes, same one Rob, very sad episode in the lifeboat history, and makes you realise how brave and skilful these guys are. I have been out on the Yarmouth lifeboat on exercises via the Fire Service many times, and to see what they do with the lifeboat is incredible, kt

[robpage]

I have crossed from Cherbourg - Portsmouth many times , force 8 + with a thirty foot , plus , swell and sat in my cabin looking at yachts and fishing boats playing hide and seek in the troughs , the yachts with the sail fully extended , thinking some RNLI volunteer will be leaving his dinner on the Isle of Wight and saving the sorry backside of another yachtsman who has not bothered to read the weather forecast , I would make RYA certification mandatory

[Tony Taylor]

I have crossed from Cherbourg - Portsmouth many times , force 8 + with a thirty foot , plus , swell and sat in my cabin looking at yachts and fishing boats playing hide and seek in the troughs , the yachts with the sail fully extended , thinking some RNLI volunteer will be leaving his dinner on the Isle of Wight and saving the sorry backside of another yachtsman who has not bothered to read the weather forecast , I would make RYA certification mandatory

Should also make the dipsticks in RNLI management do it as well.

[Lewis McColl]

Well said especially the CEO with his fat cat salary.

[John Pruden]

I watched the program through the night what seamanship brave men? jp

[Keith Tindell]

I had seen it before John, but totally agree with you, bravery beyond the call, i recorded it, and will watch again, kt

[Lewis McColl]

Yes brave men indeed, if the master of the Union Star had perhaps not made an unauthorised stop the pick up his partner and kids, well who knows in all likely hood he would have rounded lands end. More than likely the ship would have been blown clear of the coast and thereby the disaster may have been averted. At least his family would not have perished that night. He also passed to of the companies other ships that were sheltering in Brixham Harbour that day.

[Keith Tindell]

Like all situations Lewis, looking back could he have taken the tow ??, whatever it cost some good men their lives, and families changed forever, kt