Penlee Lifeboat disaster

[Tin basher]

December 2021 marks 40 years since the loss of the RNLI Penlee crew in December 1981.

The 1981 Penlee Lifeboat Disaster - RNLI History

In 1981, the crew of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne were lost attempting to rescue the crew and passengers on board a stricken coaster.

rnli.org

In March 1981 the crew of the Penlee lifeboat rescued, in the bleak and rainy early hours during very stormy weather, the yacht Hydair. The yacht was crewed by six members of the RAF from RAF ST. Athan. One of those six RAF bods was yours truly. I will be forever grateful to the Penlee crew and I always will remember them.

 

[Spearmint]

December 2021 marks 40 years since the loss of the RNLI Penlee crew in December 1981.

The 1981 Penlee Lifeboat Disaster - RNLI History

In 1981, the crew of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne were lost attempting to rescue the crew and passengers on board a stricken coaster.

rnli.org

In March 1981 the crew of the Penlee lifeboat rescued, in the bleak and rainy early hours during very stormy weather, the yacht Hydair. The yacht was crewed by six members of the RAF from RAF ST. Athan. One of those six RAF bods was yours truly. I will be forever grateful to the Penlee crew and I always will remember them.

Was it your fault then?

 

[Tin basher]

Was it your fault then?

No it wasn't.
Very much abbreviated version. At a dark, rainy, approx 1 o'clock in the morning in about a force 7 or 8 off the Cornish coast the rudder snapped off. So no steerage just bobbin in the oggin with no control heading for rocks, prompting an "interesting sphincter twitching" few hours in the dark. Whilst heading for what seemed certain doom we did at least manage to brew up. Then the lifeboat appeared out of the gloom and all was well. 4 of us transferred to the life boat and they brewed up for us as well, winner.

 

[Oldstacker]

If you ever get chance, listen to the recording of the radio conversations between the coastguards, the helo & the lifeboat in the final few minutes. The last few moments are utterly blood chilling when all that can be heard is the coasties repeatedly calling the boat and receiving no response.....

My son is a long-standing member of our local lifeboat crew and has responded to calls on many a stormy day & night; every time he goes in such weather the last messages to, and silence from, the Solomon Browne echo through my mind....