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Meticulous planning, professionalism and outstanding seamanship assisted in the safe recovery of a fishing vessel which suffered significant damage during violent storm force conditions.
At 0024 on Tuesday 22nd February 2022, Padstow Lifeboat ‘Spirit of Padstow’ received a request to assist a 35m fishing vessel that had lost her wheelhouse windows and door to very large seas. The ensuing water ingress had had resulted in the loss of all electronics and steerage, with her only means of communication being a single hand-held radio.
Conditions at the time were extremely challenging, with violent storm force conditions, including winds gusting up to 80 kts, phenomenal seas of greater than 14 metres and very poor visibility due to squally weather with periods of heavy hail. Noting the very precarious situation facing the casualty vessel, Spirit of Padstow’s Coxswain, Mr Richard Pitman, rapidly worked with his crew to prepare the lifeboat for extreme conditions and launched towards the last reported position. As the only operational lifeboat along a very large stretch of the coast, the Coxswain and crew were very aware of the importance of their mission.
Shortly before arriving on scene at 0235, Spirit of Padstow was notified that the casualty vessel had regained steerage and was now working to restore hydraulics and recover its fishing gear. Noting the uncertainty and continued danger facing the vessel’s crew, the Coxswain requested that the casualty vessel steam west in order to generate some sea room. Having achieved this the skipper was finally able to recover his fishing gear and at 0318 announced that he had all his deck gear lashed down. Whilst continuing to stand by in close proximity, Spirit of Padstow’s Coxswain recommended that the skipper get his crew back to the relative safety of the wheelhouse and continue to steam west. Having been informed by Falmouth Coastguard to avoid the Traffic Separation Scheme until daylight, Spirit of Padstow continued to stay in close by in case further assistance was required. At 0402 the casualty vessel declared that she had restored her radar and radios and was now happy to proceed without assistance.
The return journey to Padstow was no less challenging, with the size of the following seas presenting a significant risk of broaching. On arrival at Mother Ivey’s Bay, and despite extremely marginal conditions on the slipway, the Coxswain and his crew skilfully managed to rehouse the lifeboat in the knowledge that they were the only option if further tasking was required.
Whilst the above incident did not involve a traditional ‘rescue’, the actions of the Coxswain and crew are nonetheless worthy of significant merit. It is clear that the mission was underpinned by meticulous planning, particularly on the part of the Coxswain. The extra precautions to prepare the lifeboat clearly showed exceptional judgement, including a full appreciation of the likely conditions at the scene. The Coxswain demonstrated outstanding seamanship in preparing the boat and its crew for what lay ahead, and subsequently skippered the boat in the most demanding of conditions whilst consistently displaying first class decision-making skills. As such the Lady Swaythling Trophy for 2022 is presented to Coxswain Mr Richard Pitman for his outstanding seamanship whilst providing support to the fishing vessel ‘Calypso’.
