Lifeboat Exams in South Africa.

[Phil Hughes]

Hi all,
I was wondering if any of you sailed on Union Castle from London's KGV and took instruction with the 2nd; Mate en-route to sit the Lifeboat Ticket in South Africa. I was a newly qualified EDH at the time so used this to get the certificate. About 8 of us took the course and were supposed to sit it in Durban but for some reason it was moved to Cape Town. My Lifeboat Certificate is in English and Afrikaans which I still have.
Phil Hughes. R698842.

[j.sabourn]

That would have been in the days of “ one single banked complement of oars , 2 spare oars and a steering oar” , Phil would it ? Something one never forgets , one has to be careful though when one repeats and answers the question “ how many does a lifeboat carry” especially if is in a written paper and one gets the spelling wrong after a night on the Ginger Squares. Cheers JS
PS not forgetting the one and a half sets of crutches to go with the oars, JS

[Doc Vernon]

I see your Number is very close to mine Phil.
And i recall those Life Boat Exams .
My late Brother also took it but in Durbs, i myself did not get to do one , wish i had!
In those days there was an agreement with UCL in South Africa and the UK, that they would employ 10% at least of South Africans as Crew.
That is how i first got to Sea from Cape Town.
Cheers

[Des Jenkins]

Hi John
Two and a half sets of crutches? You must have had a realy bad fall LoL.
I still can't remember where I got my lifeboat cert from can't find it, along with a few other things.
Des

[j.sabourn]

Told the examiner the same thing, so he put me though it all again even to the 14 ounces of condensed milk pp and the barley sugar, not forgetting the standing lug and jib coloured red with first and last letters of ships name and number of boat in white on a red background , back to the rowing material don’t forget the two boat hooks may have to send the Peggy back for them , although doubt they would ever reach land in the middle of the Atlantic, the boat hooks that is. Cheers JS.

[Phil Hughes]

Hi Doc,
Yes you commented on that sometime back and it turned out you and I was on the "WARWICK CASTLE" at the same time in 1958 / 59. I was on the "RHODESIA CASTLE" in 1961 when I took my Lifeboat Ticket as mentioned. Happy days eh? Phil.

- - - Updated - - -

That would have been in the days of “ one single banked complement of oars , 2 spare oars and a steering oar” , Phil would it ? Something one never forgets , one has to be careful though when one repeats and answers the question “ how many does a lifeboat carry” especially if is in a written paper and one gets the spelling wrong after a night on the Ginger Squares. Cheers JS
PS not forgetting the one and a half sets of crutches to go with the oars, JS

Ha! Ha! Yes one must always be careful how one answers a question throughtout life. Cheers, Phil.

[happy daze john in oz]

Remember the life boats at the "Vindi', Who could forget them?
But recall doing life boat drill in Cape Town with the 'Fleming Gear'
Fine easy stuff, until one guy got his leg caught between the lever and the thwart.
Lucky no serious damage but in pain and bruise for some time