Back in 2009 I visited RNLI HQ at Poole on behalf of Model Boats magazineand a fascinating visit included the sea survival practical course.
My subsequent description was as below.
Colin
Sea survival course
The training pool looks similar to a largish swimming pool at first sight except that it has a constant depth, but initial appearances can be deceiving. The first training session used a B class RIB, Gordon Mote, and my viewpoint was from above on the mezzanine gallery. The three trainee crew, comprising both men and women, together with their instructor were positioned in the middle of the pool with a line to an overhead hoist and the engines were started. Two other safety staff took position at the side of the pool. Then the sea began to get up as a powerful wavemaking machine was switched on. Night descended in the form of a blackout curtain across the glass facade of the pool area and by extinguishing the lights. Peals of thunder boomed out and strobes simulated flashes of lightning. Gusts of rain filled wind from fans and sprays further reduced visibility. By now, all you could see was the boat being thrown about in the light of the strobe flashes and the illusion of a dark and stormy night was pretty much complete. At this point the tethering line was reeled in to capsize the boat throwing the crew into the water beneath it! For quite a while nothing appeared to happen, the crew remaining beneath the boat and breathing the trapped air within the hull. Then one by one, helmeted heads began to appear swimming to the stern of the inverted lifeboat. The self righting buoyancy bag carried on the frame at the stern of the boat was triggered and the B Class heaved itself back onto an even keel. The crew clambered back aboard and at once began the procedure for restarting the outboards which are specially adapted to survive inversion and total immersion. With everyone safely back on board, the Gordon Mote was ready to resume her mission, the seas died down, dawn broke and the storm faded away.
A short while later a second session took place and this time we were able to watch from below the surface through viewing windows in the side of the pool. The apparent initial chaos of eight kicking legs quickly resolved itself into disciplined action which quickly had the boat righted again. I came away deeply impressed with the realism of the exercise and the professionalism of those undertaking it.
Other survival scenarios can also be set up, including helicopter recovery, and the facility is also hired out to film makers when not required for training purposes so realistic are the weather conditions which can be reproduced – you can’t really use the word simulated!
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