Alternative to sailing clubs?

Saw the story. He wasn't "washed up", he followed the plan he had in place if something went wrong. And he sounded amazed that the RNLI would go and look for him in that weather.

Still a very daft thing to do, even for someone who has travelled the world surfing.

Think the crews volunteered for the service because going out to save folk appeals to them. They all seem to enjoy a "shout" and an excuse to get out on the sea in an all singing modern lifeboat.
......and....

.....it's not an infinite resource. Too many shouts and the service would struggle. As somebody earlier said, best not to consider them your own personal safety boat.

We had a surfer last year who jumped off Hastings Harbour Arm in a severe gale, it may have even been storm force. Needless to say it went pair shaped and he got washed out to sea. It was seriously rough. Hastings lifeboat couldn't find him though, they came back at a lower tide so the harbour didn't protect them from the shore break. (it's a beach launching station). Trying to drive the boat up the beach to come home fouled the jets with a mixture of sand and shingle that had been stirred up by the breakers....loss of power. They tried it a couple of times and then got caught in the very severe breakers turning round for another go. It didn't turtle but it went over 90 degs in the serious, serious surf. They gave up and sailed into the weather for 20 odd miles and parked it in Eastbourne Harbour for the night.
The surfer finally got washed up on Winchelsea beach, several miles away. Exhausted but unrepentant.

The RNLI didn't comment on him personally. They just said they will rescue anyone who requires it.  The media on the other hand ripped him to shreds. 




Edited by Sussex Lad - 26 Mar 21 at 3:36pm

The Lifeboat and Crew are an integral part of out community and our club (they are all honorary members).  I would be grateful for any assistance they might offer, but I am not sure that I could look any of them in the eye after a rescue if I had not taken all possible risk mitigating actions.  I think risk mitigation is the key point ... going out to sea on your own in marginal conditions might be regarded as foolhardy imo.

RNLI, deliberately take the attitude of not censuring people they rescue, they don't want people to hesitate in seeking help, the quicker you seek help, the easier the rescue is.
They have the same policy regarding salvage, regardless of how long the tow or rescue. They were criticised recently for refusing to tow an unmanned boat off the beach, reason being there was no one in danger.

Originally posted by tink Worth looking at the data, walking near water is twenty times more risky that sailing https://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/media/1208/waid2019-fatalities_report_for-web.xlsx Obviously considerably more people walk near water than sail but a group of experienced dinghy sailors aren’t going to any concern to the RNLI vs a sub £15 inflatable dinghy from Amazon