Aground on the Goodwin Sands!!!!!

[Jon Brooks]

So there we were heading out to the Goodwin Sands today with a full boat off to see the Seals.

As we approched the North Head I spotted a sailing vessel lurch to one side.
First thought were that it was healed over catching some wind.
Oh how wrong was I!!

As we turn past North Head it became very clear that the boat was "well" aground on the sand bank.

I called the vessel on ch16 to see if they needed any help, no answer.
Decided to repeat the call, again no answer.
I even tried the loud hailer to raise there attention.
Clearly to busy with their own problems to notice the 9m, bright yellow RIB!!

I called Dover Coastguard and past on the details, what we saw, where we were etc.
I am not sure they beleived me when I told them the vessel had two crew in the water trying to dig the keel out!!!

We were asked to stand by by Dover as they launched the Ramsgate inshore lifeboat.

Here are some pix of the event, hard to believe we are six miles ofshore!!!

[Jon Brooks]

More........

[BogMonster]

He must have felt a tw*t for not looking at his charts

Love the photo of the bloke standing up in the water

Did they get it off/how? or didn't you hang around to see the end?

[Jon Brooks]

The ILB put a man on the sands to chat with the Geman crew.

It was felt that the All Weather boat would be needed but would be unable to do anything till high tide, some 2.5 hours later.
The crew of the vessel were in good spirits with comms to Dover so the ILB returned to Ramsgate.

Both the ILB and ALB left came out later to recover the vessel.

Am not sure of the out come but will find out in the morning.

Cheers

[nikster]

spring low tide 199....- i landed this on the goodwin sands

i will see if my buddy who i was with has got the photo - we landed, he jumped out the back door we left the engines running, took a snap then lept off again...... was one of the best flying jobs i have ever done.... flying up the dover straights in a 40kt breeze at bridge height on containerships, putting 2 stages of flap down and almost hovering next to the ship waving to the crew on the bridge.... random...

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by nikster

spring low tide 199....- i landed this on the goodwin sands

i will see if my buddy who i was with has got the photo - we landed, he jumped out the back door we left the engines running, took a snap then lept off again...... was one of the best flying jobs i have ever done.... flying up the dover straights in a 40kt breeze at bridge height on containerships, putting 2 stages of flap down and almost hovering next to the ship waving to the crew on the bridge.... random...

Excellent, we have a few of those here in the local air service

[Limey Linda]

So why has the silly buger still got his main up ?

[nikster]

Stephan,

FIGAS cabs...... :-) if my friend was staying down there then i would have come down there to work for them - but she is bringing HMS DC back in November - so wont be down till next year again... have you got many ribs in the F.I?

nick

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by nikster

FIGAS cabs...... :-) if my friend was staying down there then i would have come down there to work for them - but she is bringing HMS DC back in November - so wont be down till next year again... have you got many ribs in the F.I?

I account for about 10% of the RIB population I think

The last time I saw another RIB in the water at the same time as me was on New Year's Day... shame really as it is so much better when there are a few of you!

[codprawn]

I take it that's a Britten Norman Islander? Never been in one but have flown in and flown Twin Otters many times. Would be a bit wary landing on a sandbank - quicksand does nothing for your undercarriage!!!