Playtime with the lifeboat

This is the end where the whisky is kept!

Like my new drysuit?

 We were lucky enough to have another practise session with Kinghorn lifeboat recently.  First time, the weather was lovely and calm, but as it was evening, we had a dimming light to work with.


Times we could use a kayak trolley like that!

This time the weather was a bit different - very blustery!

Still looking lovely and flat

As this was Dan's first trip down to the station, we were given a tour and had all the ins and outs of the lifeboat explained to us. It was then outside to show the lifeboat crew the kind of equipment we carry when we're out paddling. A few secret scenarios were then discussed away from the lifeboat crew. It was then time to launch. As I said, it was Dan's first time at the station, but only about his 2nd time out on the sea (plenty loch and pool practise). We launched out through a decent swell (you don't get that in pool practise!) then headed out into the "shelter" of the Hummel rocks. This is where Dan "had  to" be towed away from the rocks with a contact tow as he couldn't paddle due to a reaction to a jellyfish sting. He was then rescued.

We had a rescue with an unconscious paddler. With the swell we were now in, it made it a lot harder and probably more realistic. Our unconscious paddler, unsurprisingly Dan again, is no wee dainty thing! This alone can cause problems, getting him out the boat without snapping his legs! However after a few bits of discussion and suggestions, it was successful.

 

Needless to say, when it was getting really blustery, the camera didn't come out!

 

Taken from the Lifeboat

We then had a rafted rescue with Niall lounging along our boats having "lost" his.

 Another couple of rescues and it was time to head back for lunch and a bit of a debrief, what went well, what we could try next time, etc.

A really good and interesting mornings paddling and looking forward to our next session with the lifeboat - so long as it's only practising!

Damsel in distress?

 

We were recently lucky enough to be given the opportunity to work with the crew from Kinghorn Lifeboat on an evening exercise.

Young Trevor as a Thespian in training?

 

Getting acting reviews?

 We ended up working on radio protocol, getting feedback on our kit , how clearly they could see us in the dimming light and different ways they could rescue us and hopefully our boats as well.

Young Trevor tried to steal the show by fairly hamming up his "injuries" worthy of an Oscar!

Do I look suitably distressed?

Getting back in with the second crew

Phil getting "rescued"

June jaunts

 

Setting off from Seacliff

The problem with spending so much time out paddling (could there really be such a problem?) is that this page goes a bit to pot! That's where my problem comes into it, I use this page a bit like a log book to remind myself where I've been, what I've been doing and who with! So with all that in mind I'm doing a mass June paddle excluding 2 club nights per week.

It was that big!

A few Gannets

Passing the Pulpit

After coming home from Islay, our next wee outing was to Seacliff with LSKC for a short paddle out and round the Bass. On the way out, some of us had the opportunity to have a play with North Berwick lifeboat, allowing them the chance to practise rescuing paddlers from their boats. We finished off the day with a wee surf playtime before heading onto the beach for a BBQ.

Mike looking smug at the mayhem he caused Hubby dear (in the background!)

Happy to have survived

Wheeeeee!

The next week it was time for a wee trip up to St Andrews as the surf report was looking great. We arrived to find 2" "waves". The swell kind of picked up for a short spell, well long enough for me to catch the wave of the day, which was a reasonable size - big enough to trash one of the fins on my boat!

More Wheeeeee!

Next day was another trip with LSKC. This time we were taking our OCs over to Loch Lomond.

Leaving Balmaha

The wee blue sweetie bags makes another appearance

Ice cream stop at Luss

Looking up the loch

Nick looking a bit worried, that thing really zoomed!

Getting some wind assistance

  As it was, we were the only two with OC's, the rest being in seakayaks. Why is it any time I have an OC out on Loch Lomond it seems to be blowing a hooley? This day was no exception! The good thing about tying the boats back on the car that day was that we were ready for our trip the next day.

 

Checking out the Linn of Tummel

This day was with FCAG and their family fun day held up at Loch Faskally. The sun managed to disappear most of the day, but a good time was still had by all who attended with trips down the loch, others running the Tummel and another group playing on the Garry dodging the bungee jumpers overhead!

Boingggg!!

Hard work all this paddling

The final weekend in June saw me leading a group along the coast to Lower Largo with FSKC. The weather going out to Elie was beautiful, but started picking up on our return which was fine as it helped to blow us back home.

Cave keeking

Checking out the chain walk

Passing East Vows

Looking out to a far away Bass Rock from the other side