Historic lifeboats still sailing

[Larks]

These pic's have appeared on the "Couta boat V Grey Seal" thread but the Port Fairy Lifeboat seems far more worthy of it's own thread.

Rob will be along shortly with more information on it but amongst the topics for discussion here is what other historic lifeboat over 150 years old (or younger if you like) are still actively being sailed?

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Rob1-1.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Rob3.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/IMG_0782.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/IMG_0799.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/IMG_0800.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/IMG_0801.jpg

[Portland]

Greg , my understanding is that the Port Fairy boat is the oldest lifeboat in the world still sailing.
It was restored by Garry Stewart about 10 years ago , and they retained as much of the original wood and hardware as possible , repairing rather than replacing , if possible.
About 75 % of the boat is original.
It is diagonal planked , and it had a membrane between the planking , I think Garry said it was an impregnated cotton cloth.
Some of the planks were rotten at the bottom , but only the rotten parts were replaced , not the whole plank.
The people who look after the boat take it out most weekends , so they are very familiar with it (it showed) , but the trip to Portland was its longest trip in 152 years.
I'll try to get all of the stuff together provided to me by the Portland museum on its famous sistership , which took part in the rescue of survivors of the wreck of the Admella .
It is 151 years old , but is permanently housed in the Portland maritime museum.
Thanks again Greg.
Regards Rob J.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
Rob, I think I remember your saying elsewhere that the mizzen was a temporary set-up for the occasion. It seems that the original rig is a dipping lug, which I find really interesting -- who knows in what direction the boat would have been required to sail for a rescue, and how often she would need to tack in the process? A dipping lug would not seem (to me) to be the most suitable rig.

The temporary mizzen, on the other hand, seems to be a much more manageable standing lug, and I'm not clear why the main wasn't rigged the same way.

Also the ends -- almost a forecastle and aftercastle -- fascinate me. Since I think I remember your saying that she can right herself in under a minute, I assume that both ends are sealed, and provide buoyancy and a self-righting moment after a knock-down?

Mike

[Portland]

Mike , in the regatta the couta boat boys were looking forward to getting in to a tacking duel with the lifeboat , sadistic b------s !.
But , I've got to say , they did it pretty well really.
The second photo if I recall correctly is of them changing the sail around .
They had come well in to shore , so everyone could see , but it all went quite smoothly.
I believe they were mainly used under oar , in fact I don't know of them being used under sail.
But it may well have happened , and wasn't recorded as such.
I'll forward that photo to you , so you can see it in a larger size.
The trip from Port Fairy to Portland was ideal for sailing , and the mizzen , they just set it , and away !.
But when they dipped the oars , they did pretty well too.
I think they all are to be congratulated !.
I have also forwarded to Greg stuff from the Portland museum , on the lifeboats , and their performance tests.
Regards Rob J.

[Oyvind Snibsoer]

Only a mere 116 years old, but the original "RS1 Colin Archer" still sails

http://www.ssca.no/rs1.jpg

[Portland]

Thank you for your response Oyvind .
Tell us about the boat , how big is she ? ,how is she used ?.
Regards Rob J

[Oyvind Snibsoer]

Length 45', beam 15'.

She's owned by the Norw. Maritime Museum and maintained by a club, the 'Sail Cutter Club Colin Archer' (http://www.ssca.no/). She is still being actively sailed and raced.

You'll find more info about her here: http://www.ssca.no/archer.html

Copies of the original drawings are available from the museum. I did a post on that quite a few years back: http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-11748.html

[Portland]

Oyvind , thanks for the links.
I can recall reading with interest the original WBF posts , particularly when it evolved in to a (quite civil) discussion on the virtues (or not) of double enders .
It was a subject that fascinated me then , little was I to know that I was to finish up with a "Grey Seal"!.
But , I digress.
How were the Archer type boats used in a shipwreck ?.
This subject is new to me really , lifeboats working a shipwreck , I am amazed at the efforts made to get to the people on the Admella , for instance.
How would an Archer type boat assist people on a shipwreck , on rocks ?.
Regards Rob J.

[Portland]

I did a search for "Peake's principle lifeboats" , which the Portland and Port Fairy lifeboats were built under , and that took me to "The Lifeboat" "Journal of the National life boat Institution".
WOW !.
Regards Rob J.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
And Rob has just sent me an article from "The Portland Guardian" dated 28 July 1858, saying, under General News, --

"WILLIAMSTOWN LIFEBOATS. A preliminary trial was held in the Bay yesterday of three Life Boats, which were launched during the morning from the Marine Yard, at which establishment they have been constructed on Peake's principle under the superintendence of Captain Ferguson, the chief harbour master. The boats were manned with full crews belonging to the government departments, and altogether the results of each trial were deemed most satisfactory, particularly so in respect of one boat, which pulled through the water with great facility, and when several times capsized and filled with the briny element, emptied herself in the short space of thirty to thirty-two seconds."

Pretty good even for today I'd think, let alone 160 years ago.

Mike

[zertgold]

[/URL]Oyvind, Fantastic find in the archive:

Copies of the original drawings are available from the museum. I did a post on that quite a few years back: [URL="http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-11748.html"]http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/arch...p/t-11748.html (http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/member.php?u=300)
It is an epic discussion. I have an atkins Eric. She was built in 1968, but she is not yet a historical lifeboat.

[Portland]

<LI class=g>I find this fascinating !.

<LI class=g>Rob J.

<LI class=g>The life-boat, or, Journal of the National Life-Boat Institution - Google Books Result (http://books.google.com.au/books?id=bGQFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA73&lpg=PA73&dq=The+life-boat+Journal+of+the+National+life-boat+institution&source=bl&ots=WKDGOeX1yG&sig=ldhhAQIDSU6dN9IRElEdPxIW6b0&hl=en&ei=9lGYSvurDoHssQPi5PH_AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1)

by Royal National Life-Boat Institution for the ... - 1853 - Shipwrecks
The opportunity does not often occur to us of performing such great acts of self- devotion as the risking our life to save that of our fellow- crea ture, ...
books.google.com.au/books?id=bGQFAAAAQAAJ...

[Portland]

The National Life-boat Institution book deals with the lifeboats design criteria beautifully.
I haven't read it all yet , but I'm wondering how the later Archer type boats were used , on a shipwreck.
Has anyone read an account of a Colin Archer boat "in action" on a shipwreck ?.
Regards Rob J.

[seanz]

How were the Archer type boats used in a shipwreck ?.
This subject is new to me really , lifeboats working a shipwreck , I am amazed at the efforts made to get to the people on the Admella , for instance.
How would an Archer type boat assist people on a shipwreck , on rocks ?.
Regards Rob J.


The Colin Archer boats were not designed to assist in coastal shipwrecks they were designed to rescue crews from sinkings at sea.
I believe they sailed with the Norwegian fishing fleet.

That's the explanation as far as I know it Rob.....hopefully someone will be along with a more reliable opinion.
;):)

[Portland]

seanz , I guessed that would be so , but I'd like some insight in to actual examples , if they are available.
Get in to "The life-boat" book mate , fascinating reading.
I've just been reading one section of the "early days" , and the exploits on the lifeboats , of a Sir William Hillary.
He must have been a fearless sort of buggar , reading about the rescues he was involved with , and how he got busted up a few times.
And then , in another wreck , he is swept overboard , and its revealed that he couldn't swim !!!.
Regards Rob J.

[seanz]

One of our more Northerly contributers might know more. We'll just keep bumping this thread until they get on board.
:)

Those are brilliant pics of the Port Fairy boat.
:):)

[Larks]

Here are some clippings that Rob sent through, I'm not sure how readable they'll be on here but will give them a go anyway:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Lifeboats234.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Lifeboats235.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Lifeboats236.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Lifeboats237.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Lifeboats239.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Lifeboats240.jpg

[Larks]

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Lifeboats241-1.jpg

[Portland]

Thanks Greg , I'm sorry I couldn't blow them up a bit.
Regards Rob J.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
A Ryder lifeboat from 1902, photographed in Polperro harbour, Cornwall --


http://www.woodenboatfittings.com.au/public/ryder-lifeboat.jpg

There seem to be definite similarities in the design.

Mike

[Portland]

Yes , there sure is a similarity.
Especially to the setup used for the sail from Port Fairy to Portland.
When are you off Mike ?.
Regards Rob J.

[RFNK]

Great thread! Thanks Greg and Rob! Rick

[Portland]

Hopefully in time we will get photos of "Victory" Garry's couta boat , as we surfed past the lifeboat at 10 knots.
We know there were photos taken by the crew of the lifeboat , and the coastguard.
Regards Rob J.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

When are you off Mike ?.


Friday morning, Rob.

Cheers, Mike

[Portland]

Mike , I have sent you an e-mail re the photos.
Regards Rob J.

[Portland]

Well , at the coastguard meeting tonight , I was talking to a bloke that took heaps of photos of Victory as she surfed past the lifeboat , and he should forward them to me tomorrow.
Joining the coastguard was a good move , not only do I get free training in radio useage , but also navigation .
And the usual stuff like firefighting , and first aid.
And I can do courses in boating skills , but thats for a stink boat , so I'm not so sure about that.
But , should have more photos tomorrow.
Regards Rob J.

[BarnacleGrim]

http://www.tallshipsrace.fi/files/AstridFinne.jpg

This very evening I took the helm of RS 43 Astrid Finne into the Gothenburg Harbour. Fantastic boat, best day of sailing ever! Negotiating the lateral marks, ferries, tankers going in and out in the dark was quite a handful! Lucky I had my classmates to help with the navigation. The guys manning the radar weren't of much help, though.

[Portland]

It looks to be quite some boat.
How many crew does it take to sail her well ?.
Regards Rob J.

[RFNK]

These are Rob's pictures of Victory taken by the coastguard. Nice pictures!


http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr69/rfnk/IMGP2912.jpg

http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr69/rfnk/IMGP2913.jpg

[Portland]

Thanks Rick.
Yes I like the pictures , but he must have just missed us "up and surfing".
A great experience though.
Regards and thanks Rick .
Rob j.

[NealmCarter]

The Elf is still sailing..built by Lawley in 1888. Berthed on the Chesapeake Bay..and in need of crew. Join the CYRG an help out...any interested parties can go to our website for further info: www.cyrg.org