Penlee disaster 34 years ago

Spare a thought for the family of these volunteers who gave their lives upholding the standards of the RNLI

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penlee_lifeboat_disaster


The greatest act of courage that I have ever seen, and am ever likely to see, was the penultimate courage and dedication shown by the Penlee [crew] when it manoeuvred back alongside the casualty in over 60 ft breakers and rescued four people shortly after the Penlee had been bashed on top of the casualty's hatch covers. They were truly the bravest eight men I've ever seen, who were also totally dedicated to upholding the highest standards of the RNLI.

I was 2nd Mate on a 100m coaster hove to in the same storm but in the Med heading for the Gibraltar straits, massive swells breaking over each end of the ship! I listened to the tragedy unfold via the world service and Radio 4 on 198 mHz.

The Old Man was from Penzance, he later went Skipper on the Scillonian III, he was very shocked when he heard the news.

The official report is very detailed, shocking disregard of common sense. The ship was brand new, the Chief Engineer who had stood by it's build was sacked just before she sailed, lots of factors involved but ultimately she should never have been out there.

seadog wrote:

I was 2nd Mate on a 100m coaster hove to in the same storm but in the Med heading for the Gibraltar straits, massive swells breaking over each end of the ship! I listened to the tragedy unfold via the world service and Radio 4 on 198 mHz.

The Old Man was from Penzance, he later went Skipper on the Scillonian III, he was very shocked when he heard the news.

The official report is very detailed, shocking disregard of common sense. The ship was brand new, the Chief Engineer who had stood by it's build was sacked just before she sailed, lots of factors involved but ultimately she should never have been out there.

I did think that, but ultimately I suppose it's what they do

Self preservation should always come above commercial interest.

Is it the Solomon Browne you refer to?

Yes Hugh, Solomon Browne was the lifeboat that was lost.
If a deal had been agreed for a salvage tug to take the Union Star in tow earlier in the afternoon the disaster would never have happened.

FY 310 wrote:

Yes Hugh, Solomon Browne was the lifeboat that was lost.
If a deal had been agreed for a salvage tug to take the Union Star in tow earlier in the afternoon the disaster would never have happened.  

Remembering this for me always herald the beginning of the Xmas period, a bunch of hardy volunteers going out in treacherous weather out of a sense of duty.  

 i love the way mousehole turn off the lights for an hour this evening, it seems so much more poignant than the forced you WILL remember those that died in the war that goes on in November

Dartmoor folkster Seth Lakeman did a great tribute song to the Penlee lifeboatmen: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SYCf-Esfjb8

Was It that long ago, bleddy tragic disaster

Graiser wrote:

Was It that long ago, bleddy tragic disaster

Just what I thought Graiser beh!
Don't think the RNLI have the phrase ''self-preservation'' in their vocabulary.

RNLI = bravest of the brave.