Thank you RNLI

This is a personal thank you that I want to make public.
Today an RNLI rescue boat came out to save me and my friend. Never has
there been a moment in my life where I felt so relieved and thankful as
when I saw that RIB speeding towards me today.

Myself in my boat and a friend singlehanding his lark went out for a play
in swanage bay, only to caught out by a rip tide. We were being dragged
along the coast and out to sea further and further. It was a horrible
feeling being in a situation than I had no control of. For a long, long time
my friend and I drifted further and further out to sea.
I genuinely cannot explain the overwhelming feeling of relief to see that
RNLI rib come speeding towards us. One of the guys on the rib happened
to be a good friend of mine and today I gave him the biggest hug!

Those guys who are always wearing that beeper on there belt, always on
call, are as far as I'm concerned, HERO'S!!

You can mock me all you like but this is a way of saying thank you to
them. Today could have turned out a lot worse.

Doug H

How we're they alerted? Did you call them or did someone
spot you?

It's something that's always concerned me (even within
the relative constraints of Portland Harbour) to the
point that we always carry a mobile phone in a
waterproof case in the boat and a hand held VHF in the
pocket of my BA.

I really should do a VHF course but I'm sure they
wouldn't mind me using it in an emergency.

Originally posted by ellistine How we're they alerted? Did you call them or did someone spot you? .

There is a look out station at Swanage.  This pics shows the look-out post and on the right, you can see the tidal race over the ledges - this is a calm day.



http://www.wordsandpictures.me.uk/westcountry/swanage.html


Edited by JohnW

I had the RNLI come out to me in 1984 when the rescue boat I was in had the engine tear through the wooden transom and sink. (No, I don't know why it wasn't bolted on, either!) One of the dinghies towed us in towards the harbour but wasn't able to bring us in. As this was before easily available VHF and mobile phones, we had to light a flare to get help. As it was a darkening winter afternoon, and the alternative was attempting to paddle in against wind and tide, they were a welcome sight.
The guys were great and didn't mind coming out to get us at all. In return we spent some time capsizing dinghies in order to help them learn how to deal with small boats.
Even though we now live inland, both our kids are members of Stormforce, and we visit lifeboat stations whenever we are near them.