SPONSORED BY PREMIER NOSS ON DART

NEWS FROM THE RNLI TEAM IN DARTMOUTH RNLI DART NOW OPERATES B-825 being craned into the harbour. WITH AN ADDITIONAL ATLANTIC 85 INSHORE LIFEBOAT The two year trial to assess the suitability of placing an RNLI B class inshore lifeboat in Dartmouth has been completed. The trial Andy by Kyle. Photograph commenced with Salcombe’s ex Atlantic 75 lifeboat on 9 September 2018, to work alongside our D class lifeboat. In particular the Operational Director of the RNLI wished to be very clear about the frequency and type of tasking requests that are placed on the D class lifeboat that are near the limit of the guidelines for its use and launched 30 times, saved one life fleet at Poole was brought to capability, including crew safety and aided 44 people. Dartmouth on 18 August for the factors. The Aquadock used for the further training of the Operations On 7 July Mark Strudwick, trial , originally for the Loch team. She was craned into the Lifeboat Operations Manager for Ness B class, was modified on the water from the South Embankment the RNLI Dart lifeboat Station, watched by a sizable crowd. was told that the Trustees of Further photographs can be found the institution had approved in the Picture gallery on the station the Operations Committee’s web site www.rnlidart.org.uk Until recommendation for the “She is the right the Atlantic 85 became operational, permanent allocation of a B class asset for the the Atlantic 75 remained on station lifeboat to the Dart Lifeboat right job” as an operational lifeboat. Station. It was proven that the Having learnt to handle the desired effect on lifesaving Atlantic 75 over the last two years capability had been met, which the helms needed to modify their resulted in an earlier than expected boat handling skills as the two approval. river to take the larger Atlantic 85 handle very differently, During the trial the Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat. Throughout July especially at high speeds. The was launched at the request of the and August the volunteer crew, lifeboat crew had to be trained Coastguard, 50 times, saved two helms and RNLI trainers entered in the use of the radar and the lives and assisted 97 people. She an intensive period of training to direction finding VHF radio, neither was also launched 114 times on familiarise themselves with the of which are on the Atlantic exercise, which highlighted the enhanced assets and capabilities of 75. Fortunately the advanced exceptional commitment of the the new boat that was coming. electronics package, including the Dart volunteers. During the same The Atlantic 85 lifeboat B-825 navigation system, is the same period the D class lifeboat was Norma Ethel Vinall from the relief on the two boats and is also used Photo by Stuart Millard/RNLI crew also has to keep command of all the tasks such as navigation, radar, VHF direction finding and communication being carried out by the crew.

THE ENHANCED CAPABILITIES OF THE ATLANTIC 85 Engines. The two 115hp four stroke Yamaha engines can enable her to travel for 2.5 hours at full speed of 35knots. There is a start on the Tamar and Shannon all- based on the RNLI Dart lifeboat button for each engine and the weather-lifeboats. station; the Atlantic 85 Norma choke is automatic. She runs on The 21 RNLI Dart lifeboat crew Ethel Vinall kept on the enlarged unleaded petrol straight from had to be trained and become Aquadock on the river and D838, the pump. A button operated familiar with the new boat’s Dudley Jane, housed within the by the helm controls their trim. layout and where every piece of lifeboat station. Unless it is a flat calm it is usual to equipment was stored. They had Mark Strudwick, Dart Lifeboat throttle back at sea and continue to be able at 30knots which still makes the 85 to access all the fastest lifeboat class in the RNLI the rescue fleet, except for the even faster E equipment boats on the Thames. There are no carried, even restrictions on how far out to sea when the she can go. The engines can be boat will be re-started electrically even after a operating in total capsize. rough seas Crew numbers. Four is the and in total official maximum crew number. darkness. She can launch with three. Other Another emergency personnel eg a common Paramedic, can be carried in the 4th factor was the seat. water filled Weather conditions. The 85 ballast tank in Photo by John Fenton can go to sea in a Force 4, 5 or 6, the bows to depending on the wind direction. prevent the “She is the right asset for the right craft flipping over onto her back Operations manager, was keen to job” “The smaller Atlantic 75 is a when she reached rough water. highlight that the new boat not D class with seats. The 85 is an RNLI Dart has permission from the only brings increased capability all-weather-lifeboat with no lid” Harbour Master to travel above the to deal with the situations she is said Rich Eggleton, Dart lifeboat water speed limit in the harbour in tasked to in Start Bay and for 10 Training Co-ordinator. order to fill the tanks and this may miles upstream on the river Dart, occur as she leaves the harbour. but also is safer for the four crew Within the first two weeks The tank then has to be emptied who are now seated and strapped of becoming operational the before she can be re-berthed on into a self-righting lifeboat. Coastguard called out the Atlantic the Aquadock. Kevin Murphy, helm on both 85 six times and the D class once. On 28 August, on what would the boats, described having the The first, a rescue of a single have been Regatta Friday in any Atlantic 85 as “Moving us up a handed yachtsman and his dog, normal year, HM Coastguard league.” Not only does a helm have was the day before she became recognised B-825 as an operational to deal with increased windage operational but the volunteers asset. on the boat and power from the happened to be training with the Dartmouth now has two lifeboats two 115hp 4 stroke engines, but right boat in the right place.

News, details of launches, photographs and videos can be found on the Dart station website. www.dartlifeboat.org.uk or the station Facebook page www.facebook.com/dartrnlilifeboat