Camping on the RIB and sinking boats

[DJL]

Dylan and I spent the weekend on Bumblebee, sleeping on the RIB in Lulworth cove Saturday night. Its fantastic sleeping on the water with the stars above you. Definitely something we will try again, probably try going further a field now.

On Sunday morning after making the 9nmi run from Lulworth cove to Portland Bill lighthouse we heard a pan pan broadcast on Ch16. A boat had struck a rock and was sinking just west of Durdle Door. We turned the boat straight round and headed as fast as we could back towards the sinking vessel. On arrival we found a rather large Hardy with its stern in the air and bow almost underwater. Two large boats were standing by but neither could get close enough to offload the two crew onboard. We proceeded to transfer the two crew and belongings off the boat and onto one of the larger boats. About 5 minutes later Weymouth all weather and inshore lifeboats turned up and attempted to secure the Hardy which by then had settled on the top of the rock (either the cow or the calf - not sure which is which).

The Hardy was owned by and elderly couple in their eighties who were apparently very experienced. Although they were pretty shocked initially they soon had arranged for Apex divers to attempt salvage and then hitched a lift back to Chichester on another boat. It certainly made for an interesting morning anyway.

[DJL]

.

[Hightower]

Good on ya Daniel, sounds like an interesting weekend.

Andy

[MeMe]

.great rescue. I bet you were as frightened as those being rescued !

As for the camping, I'd love to give that a try, perhaps when I get my new RIB I will !

[Tim M]

MeMe - surely your Medline would be ideal for sleeping on?!?

PS. What became of cruiser?

[Andy]

Well done guys helping out.

Ricky and me camped on our boat at RIBEX. It was great and the sleep was wonderfull, however it was fueled by beer after the RIBnet bash. Great fun. Count us in on your next adventure.

See yas

[willowkis]

Job well done! It's great to see there are decent people around willing to help others in need.

Kim

[TQBoater]

When sleeping on the boat did you use any sort of cover / tent or just out in the open ?

I would have thought everything would be very damp.

Well done on the rescue

[MarkWildey]

Having spent years diving that part of the coast, I know that rock well as it quite often had bass swimming around it.
The set of rocks to the west of the door extends all the way down, off and on, to the tip of Ringstead Bay. Although there are big gaps you need to be careful.


Daniel, nice pictures

Cheers

Mark

[Andy]

Originally Posted by TQBoater

When sleeping on the boat did you use any sort of cover / tent or just out in the open ?

I would have thought everything would be very damp.

Well done on the rescue

I take camping mats to sleep on, that gets you off the deck and protects you from getting wet from below if the deck was wet. Then a good sleeping bag. Spent most of the night half in the bag as it was warm. Also as you are below the tubes, tubes one side, console the other you are sort of snug!! out of the wind etc.

We also took our boat cover which is waterproof and would have rolled it across half the boat if it rained, to give us shelter. I know there are people on here with more elegent "tent" solutions. How did you do it Daniel?