Newhaven's RNLI

1. Coxswain
Lee
Blacknell
of
the
David
and
Elizabeth
Acland
Lifeboat
at
Newhaven
Coxswain
Lee
Blacknell
spent
5
years
in
the
merchant
Navy
before
volunteering
for
the
RNLI.
During
the
day
he
works
as
the
coxswain
on
Newhaven’s
pilot
boat,
guiding
boats
around
the
sand
banks
when
entering
and
leaving
the
harbour.
If
Newhaven’s
RNLI
are
called
out
during
the
day,
Lee’s
boss
allows
him
to
aDend
to
his
duEes
as
2nd
coxswain
of
the
David
and
Elizabeth
Acland
lifeboat,
named
aJer
past
RNLI
commiDee
members.
If
any
boats
need
piloEng
into
the
harbour
while
Lee
is
out
with
the
RNLI,
they
just
have
to
wait.
Regaining
control
of
the
boat
following
the
loss
of
steering
in
a
training
exercise
During
2013,
the
crew
were
called
out
54
Emes.
Each
Eme,
the
boat
was
launched
within
8
minutes
of
the
crew
being
paged
by
the
lifeboats
operaEon
manager.
Most
call
outs
are
insEgated
by
the
coastguard,
and
VHF
radio
calls
concerning
safety
and
distress
at
sea.
The
RNLI’s
purpose
is
to
save
lives
at
sea,
its
vision
is
to
end
preventable
loss
of
life
at
sea.

2. Performance
during
training
exercises
is
crucial.
The
senior
and
more
experienced
members
of
the
crew
are
only
too
aware
of
the
importance
of
training
exercises
undertaken.
This
stretch
of
coastline,
between
Brighton
and
Eastbourne,
includes
marinas,
as
well
as
rocky
and
sandy
beaches.
As
a
result,
it
is
an
aDracEve
spot
for
yachts,
powerboats,
dinghies,
windsurfers
and
jet
skis.
In
2013,
Newhaven’s
crew
assisted
kayaks,
dinghies
and
even
a
paraglider
in
trouble
at
sea.
Newhaven
itself
is
a
working
harbour
with
addiEonal
traffic
including
convenEonal
and
high
speed
ferries,
merchant
ships,
fishing
vessels,
and
charter
fishing
boats.
In
2013,
vessels
in
trouble
at
sea,
comprised
the
majority
of
call
outs.
Most,
were
in
relaEon
to
mechanical
problems.
Some
were
taking
on
water,
and
others
were
lost
in
fog.
People
and
dogs
falling
from
cliffs,
or
reported
missing,
also
comprise
a
large
proporEon
of
call
outs.
Other
rescues
include
people
cut
off
by
the
Ede
or
stuck
in
mud,
medical
situaEons,
and
persons
swept
into
the
sea.
Volunteering
for
the
RNLI
can
be
stressful,
and
does
include
the
recovery
of
bodies.
Birling
Gap’s
Inshore
Lifeboat
recover
a
body
at
Beachy
Head
Newhaven’s
RNLI’s
regular
field
of
operaEons
spans
from
Brighton’s
Palace
Pier
to
Beachy
Head
near
Eastbourne.
It
includes
12
miles
of
sheer
cliff
face,
including
the
seven
sisters.
162
meters
above
sea
level,
Beachy
Head
is
the
highest
chalk
sea
cliff
in
Britain.
Sadly,
it
is
one
of
Britain’s
most
notorious
suicide
spots.
In
2013,
Newhaven’s
RNLI
were
called
out
to
ten
reports
of
people
having
fallen
from
the
cliff,
or
reported
missing
and
in
distress.
The
lifeboat
crew
do
not
always
know
whether
recovered
bodies
are
the
result
of
suicide
or
accidental.
Newhaven’s
crew
are
not
the
only
crew
who
aDend
this
parEcular
area.
Birling
Gap’s
Inshore
lifeboat
recover
the
majority
of
bodies.
An
average
of
twenty
people
a
year
complete
successful
suicide
aDempts
at
Beachy
Head.
As
part
of
the
training
exercise
the
crew
must
recover
a
14
stone
dummy
that
had
been
dropped
into
the
water
earlier.
The
navigator
must
consider
the
impact
of
Ede
and
weather
condiEons
to
calculate
the
risk
resultant
(path
that
casualty
travels).
The
dummy,
nicknamed
‘Dead
Fred’
by
the
crew,
is
fiDed
with
a
radio
transmiDer,
so
that
they
can
recover
the
dummy
if
navigaEon
techniques
fail.
Every
Eme
this
exercise
is
carried
out,
it
provides
more
data
to
help
improve
search
and
rescue
techniques.
The
team
debrief
aIer
a
member
of
the
crew
was
injured
as
part
of
a
training
exercise
Lifeboat
volunteers
require
a
diverse
range
of
skills,
as
well
as
a
high
level
of
commitment.
Training
includes
personal
survival,
firefighEng
techniques,
seamanship
skills,
technical
and
lifeboat
specific
skills.
Courses
undertaken
include
everything
from
Management,
Command
and
CommunicaEon
to
Mud
and
Quicksand
Rescues.
In
addiEon
to
saving
lives
at
sea,
the
crew
must
also
ensure
one
another’s
safety.
In
certain
exercises,
the
crew
must
recognize
that
a
member
of
the
team
has
not
been
seen
for
several
minutes,
and
that
this
means
they
could
be
in
difficulty.
Once
finding
the
injured
crew
member,
the
appropriate
first
aid
must
be
administered.

4. The
tension
eases
aIer
compleKng
the
training
exercise,
and
the
crew
head
home.
95%
of
the
RNLI
is
made
up
of
volunteers.
The
RNLI
describes
its
volunteers
and
staff
as:
Selfless
–
puhng
the
requirements
of
others
before
their
own,
and
the
needs
of
the
team
before
the
individual;
Dependable
–
making
sure
that
they
are
always
available;
Trustworthy
–
responsible/
accountable
and
efficient
in
the
use
of
donaEons;
and
Courageous
–
prepared
to
to
achieve
aims
in
changing
and
challenging
environments.
The
crew
unload
the
ship
and
prepare
the
boat
for
it’s
next
trip.
AJer
the
training
exercise
is
complete
and
the
crew
have
returned
to
the
harbour,
‘Dead
Fred’
is
returned
to
the
lifeboat
house.
Several
chores
must
sEll
be
completed
before
the
crew
can
regroup
in
the
lifeboat
house
and
have
for
a
cup
of
tea
to
warm
up.
Coxswain
Lee
Blacknell
hangs
up
his
coat
before
heading
home
to
spend
Sunday
aIernoon
with
his
family.
Each
year
it
costs
the
RNLI
£140
million
to
run
its
services.
It
depends
enErely
on
donaEons,
and
demand
for
its
services
are
increasing;
the
three
busiest
years
on
record
have
been
within
the
last
five
years.
In
2009,
the
busiest
year
on
record,
the
RNLI
launched
lifeboats
9,154
Emes,
and
rescued
8,186
people
across
Britain
and
Ireland.
As
coxswain
Lee
Blacknell
hangs
up
his
coat,
he
will
already
be
thinking
about
the
training
exercise
that
the
crew
will
face
next
Wednesday
evening
–
pyrotechnics.
Volunteering
for
the
RNLI
not
only
involves
a
huge
commitment,
it
requires
a
high
level
of
skill.
Volunteer
or
not,
you
are
responsible
and
accountable
for
the
lives
of
others.
The
team
clean
down
the
boat
aIer
returning
to
Newhaven
Harbour
Newhaven’s
Severn
Class
All-­‐Weather
lifeboat
weighs
45
tonnes,
is
17
meters
long,
and
travels
at
25
knots.
It
carries
a
small
Y
boat,
which
is
an
inflatable
daughter
boat.
This
small
craJ
can
be
launched
with
a
crane
and
is
used
in
moderate
condiEons
to
access
areas
where
the
lifeboat
cannot
reach.
It
is
self
righEng
even
with
hull
damage.
It
contains
comprehensive
first
aid
equipment
including
stretchers,
oxygen
and
Entonox.
At
a
build
cost
of
£2
million
it
is
important
that
the
boat
is
washed
down
when
it
returns
to
the
harbour,
as
the
damage
caused
by
salt
water
corrosion
is
extensive.
In
addiEon
to
this
the
lifeboats
undergo
a
regular
condiEon-­‐based
maintenance
regime
to
check
their
condiEon.