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Launch 21 Friday 18th December 2008 Time of launch signal 19:02 Time ILB in the water 19:08 Time at incident 19:28 Time ILB recovered 21:00 Time ILB back on station 21:30 Location: Redlap cove, West of the Dart estuary. Sea state: Wind Northerly. 12 Knots. Sea moderate. A 7m RIB had become stranded on Redlap Cove during the afternoon. The boatman had decided to wait for the tide to refloat the boat but it became swamped and the Mobile Coast Guard had been called to assist. They were having difficulty keeping the boat off the rocks. The Coast Guard tasked the Dart ILB and the Torbay ALB that was on exercise in the area, to assist. The crew of the ILB took a tow rope from the ALB which was illuminating the scene and attached it to the RIB. The RIB was towed to the Dart estuary by the ALB and the tow was then taken over by the ILB who continued to the Lower ferry slip. The RIB was then able to return to its mooring at the Marina under its own power. |

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Launch 20 Sunday 30th November 2008 Time of launch signal 15:27 Time ILB in the water 15:31 Time at incident 15:39 Time ILB recovered 16:40 Time ILB back on station 17:02 Location: Mill Meadow cove, West of the Dart estuary. Sea state: Wind North east. 20 Knots. Sea moderate. Two 18 year old students were sea kyaking from Redlap Cove to Blackpool Sands when they capsized off Mill Meadow Cove. After 30 - 40 minutes in the water they both reached the shore. One was able to climb the cliff and raise the alarm. The ILB put a crewman ashore who assessed the casualty on the beach as being severely hypothermic and requiring immediate medical attention. The ILB veered to the beach and took the casualty to Blackpool Sands, where he was met by the mobile coastguard team and a paramedic. He was then transferred by ambulance to Derriford Hospital. The ILB returned to the Cove, and brought the aluminium sea kayak back to Dartmouth. |

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Launch 19 Wednesday 12th November 2008 Time of launch signal 09:13 Time ILB in the water 09:19 Time at incident 09:24 Time ILB recovered 10:00 Time ILB back on station 10:26 Location: Sugary Cove, West of the Dart estuary. Sea state: Wind no direction. 0 Knots. Sea flat calm. A member of the public called the DLA to report a "sinking boat in Sugary cove." The Coastguard requested that the ILB investigate. They found the screen and cream fiberglass fairing of an 8 foot speedboat with four fenders attached, floating in Sugary Cove. They searched the shoreline and there was no trace of the occupant. The ILB towed the wreckage back to the Dart Estuary where a Dart Harbour Authority launch took over the tow. |
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Launch 18 Sunday 26th October 2008 Time of launch signal 06:57 Time ILB in the water 07:04 Time at incident 07:12 Time ILB recovered 08:06 Time ILB back on station 08:25 Location: Castle Ledge buoy, Dart estuary. Sea state: Wind Southerly. 18 Knots. Sea moderate. A 38ft yacht was motoring towards the Dart estuary when she broke down and lost all electrical power. The Berlinder of Hove was able to put a tow on the casualty and tow her into the estuary. The ILB then took over the tow and returned the yacht to her berth at Sandquay. |
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Launch 17 Sunday 28th September 2008 Time of launch signal 12:50 Time ILB in the water n.a. Already on exercise, west of the Dart estuary at Landcombe Cove Time at incident 13:10 Time ILB recovered 15:20 Time ILB back on station 16:05 Location: Half a mile off Start Point. Sea state: Wind North East. 5 Knots. Sea calm. Whilst on exercise the ILB heard a "Pan Pan" from the 7.5m motor fishing boat Karrine, with two on board. The engine cooling system had failed and they were without power. The ILB set up a tow but Chris Tracey, the helm, realised that they would not have enough fuel to complete the tow against the tide. The Katlotte, a 8m speedboat, offered assistance and took over the tow whilst the ILB returned to the Dart to refuel. The ILB retook the tow off the Western Blackstone and returned the Karrine to her Kingswear berth. |
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Launch 16 Sunday 21st September 2008 Time of launch signal 12:09 Time ILB in the water n.a. Already on exercise, east of the Dart estuary at Mill Bay Time at incident 12:25 Time casualy landed 13:15 Time ILB recovered 13:25 Time ILB back on station 13:45 Location: Three miles south of Blackpool Sands. Sea state: Wind East North East. 17 Knots. Sea moderate. Whilst on exercise the ILB heard a "Pan Pan" from a 5m dory with six people on board. The lady in the bow of the dory had injured her back as it came down from a high wave. The ILB was already at sea, with a Paramedic crewmember on board, and was tasked by the Coastguard to attend. On arrival the Paramedic was transferred to the dory to assess the injured lady and it was decided that she would be more comfortable in the dory, rather than being transferred to the ILB in a moderate sea in 2m waves. The ILB escorted the dory to the Higher Ferry slip in Dartmouth where an ambulance and the Stoke Fleming mobile Coastguard team was waiting. |
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Launch 15 Sunday 14th September 2008 Time of launch signal 11:07 Time ILB in the water n.a. Already on exercise, East of the Mew Stone Time at incident 11:28 Time ILB recovered 12:10 Time ILB back on station 12:10 Location: Three miles east of Berry Head. Sea state: Wind North East. 5 Knots. Sea calm. Whilst on exercise the ILB heard a "Pan Pan" from a 7.5m fibreglass fishing vessel with an engine fire. The Coast Guard tasked the RNLI Torbay ALB to attend but, as the Dart ILB was already afloat and positioned east of the Mew Stone on exercise, she was also tasked to attend and arrived within a minute of the ALB. The position of the boat was easily located using the inbuilt GPS system on the new IB1 lifeboat. The crewmember put aboard the casualty from the Torbay boat assessed that the fire had gone out and the boat could be safely towed to Brixham. The ILB was stood down. |
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Launch 14 Monday 25th August 2008 Time of launch signal 15:03 Time ILB in the water 15:09 Time at incident 15:25 Stood down Time ILB recovered 15:40 Time ILB back on station 15:49 Location: Off Beesands, West of Dartmouth in Start Bay Sea state: Wind West South West. 25 Knots. Sea rough. Members of the public saw a small sailing vessel with two adults on board requesting assistance off Beesands. They notified the Coastguard who called out the ILB. The ILB was launched but stood down as they passed Redlap Cove, en route to the casualty, as a local fishing boat had rendered assistance and was towing them in. |
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Launch 13 Friday 15th August 2008 Time of launch signal 01:57 Time ILB in the water 02:03 Time at incident 02:25 Time ILB recovered 04:30 Time ILB back on station 04:40 Location: Landcombe Cove, West of Blackpool Sands, 3 miles West of Dart Estuary: Sea state: Wind South Westerly. 5 Knots. Sea calm The Coastguard tasked the Dart ILB, the Torbay RNLI All Weather Lifeboat, mobile Coast guard units from Stoke Fleming and Prawle as well as the Ambulance service to attend an incident at Landscombe Cove. Six teenagers had lit a fire in a cave in the cove when a 2cwt rock fell 12 feet from the roof of the cave onto the group. One youth had serious injuries to his legs and another had soft tissue injuries and a damaged knee. Dart ILB landed their own Paramedic crewmember and then fetched a second Paramedic crewmember from the ALB. In view of the injuries it was decided that evacuation by stretcher in total darkness up the steep hillside was impracticable, as was evacuation on the ILB. A RAF Helicopter from Chivenor made an amazing landing on the narrow beach, illuminated from the sea by the ALB, and airlifted the two to Torbay Hospital. A third, less injured, member of the party was transferred with a paramedic from the Ambulance service by the ILB to Blackpool Sands for assessment in a waiting ambulance. (For the News Release please refer to the News section) |
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Launch 12 Tuesday 12th August 2008 Time of launch signal 19:26 (The ILB was already afloat on a training exercise) Time ILB in the water N.A. Time at incident 19:41 Time ILB recovered 20:41 Time ILB back on station 20:55 Location: Blackpool Sands, 3 miles West of Dart Estuary Sea state: Wind South Westerly. 20 Knots. Sea choppy. The ILB was tasked by the Coastguard to attend an incident where a man was stuck on the cliff at Blackpool Sands. The mobile CG unit was at the cliff top. The ILB was asked to stand by as a CG helicopter winched the man from the cliff to the local carpark. The casualty was then transferred to Hospital by Ambulance with minor injuries. |
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Launch 11 Saturday 2nd August 2008 Time of launch signal 17:42 (Before the teas following the Naming ceremony had finished) Time ILB in the water 17:44 Time at incident 17:53 Time ILB recovered 18:29 Time ILB back on station 18:40 Location: River Dart, Stoke Gabriel River state: Wind South Westerly. 10 Knots. River calm. An elderly infirm lady had been reported to the Police as missing on a walk between Stoke Gabriel and Mill Point. The Coastguard requested the ILB to search the shoreline. She was found unharmed at Mill Pool by the mobile Coastguard unit. |
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Photo by Anna Perry. |
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Launch 10 Saturday 2nd August 2008 Time of launch signal 08:03 Time ILB in the water 08:08 Time at incident 08:21 Time ILB recovered 08:54 Time ILB back on station 09:03 Location: Leonards Cove, 3 miles West of the Dart estuary Sea state: Wind Westerly. 10 Knots. Sea slight to moderate. Coastguard requested the ILB go to Leonard's Cove as witnesses reported seeing an upturned boat with people in the water. On arrival the ILB crew found nothing. They searched down tide and again found nothing. A small fishing boat in the area reported seeing nothing untoward. It is possible that the witnesses interpreted fishing activities as an emergency situation. |
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Launch 9 Wednesday 23rd July 2008 Time of launch signal 21:00 Time ILB in the water 21:08 Time at incident 21:33 Time left first incident 21:48 Time ILB recovered Time ILB back on station Location: Brutus Bridge Totnes River state: Wind Easterly. 5 Knots. River calm. A man had fallen into the river Dart near Brutus Bridge, Totnes. The Coastguard requested the ILB attend as the Police and Medical team were having problems reaching him. The lifeboat stood by as the man was recovered by the Police just before they arrived. On returning down the Dart the lifeboat was diverted to assist a broken down motor cruiser with the owner on board, which they towed to Tuckenhay in Bow Creek. |
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Squiff Howitt helms D523 on Launch 8 |
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Launch 8 Monday 14th July 2008 Time of launch signal 15:48 Time ILB in the water 15:54 Time at incident 16:01 Time ILB recovered 17:12 Time ILB back on station 17:22 Location: The Mewstone. Dart estuary Sea state: Wind South Westerly. 10 Knots. Sea slight. A small 20 foot motor cruiser was seen to be waving for help whilst some 20 feet from the rocks around the Mewstone. The Riviera Bell raised the alarm but was not able initially to get close enough to give assistance and the Coast Guard requested the ILB to launch. The Dartmouth registered craft with the owner and his two daughters on board, had lost power due to a faulty fuel connection. By the time the ILB was on the scene, some thirteen minutes from the alarm being raised, the craft had been swept along by the tide and by paddling had reached the Riviera Bell. The ILB put a crewman on board and the cruiser was towed back to her berth on the Dart Marina. |

| D523 on hand at Kingswear quay to assist the divers. The first diver they brought to the scene was Tony Hoile (also an RNLI DLA) who assessed the situation. Later the crew assisted the Police divers who retrieved the body which was then recovered to the Lower Ferry slip by the lifeboat. |
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Launch 7 Thursday 14th May 2008 Time of launch signal 17:56 Time ILB in the water 18:03 Time at incident 18:05 Time ILB recovered 22:52 Time ILB back on station 23:02 Location: Kingswear crabbing quay and River Dart. Sea state: Wind Easterly light. River calm. Light showers.
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Launch 6 Friday 18th April 2008 Time of launch signal 12:00 Time ILB in the water 12:15 Time at incident Time ILB recovered 14:05 Time ILB back on station 14:18 Location: River Dart, Totnes to the estuary Sea state: Wind Easterly. 5 Knots. Calm, Light showers. The Coastguard requested a launch to search the river Dart for an overdue 27 foot Folkboat, "Gibbon" that was reported on the Dart one week ago. Nothing was found. |
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Launch 5 Wednesday 19th March 2008 Time of launch signal 07:38 Time ILB in the water 07:47 Time at incident 08:10 Time ILB recovered 09:05 Time ILB back on station 09:18 Location: Berry rock, South of Home Reach, Totnes Sea state: Wind North Easterly.
2-3 Knots. Calm, Sunny. The Coastguard requested a launch to assist an 18 foot Shetland motor cruiser with two men on board, adrift on Home reach. The battery on the motor cruiser was flat and they had attempted to tow their boat down stream using their tender. The engine on the tender failed, leaving them adrift. The ILB towed them back upstream to Totnes and left them secured to the Rowing Club slipway. |
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Launch 4 Saturday 23rd February 2008 Time of launch signal 08:30 Time ILB in the water 08:43 Time at incident 09:02 Time ILB recovered 09:45 Time ILB back on station 09:50 Location: Kelly's Cove, east of the Mewstone. Sea state: Wind South Westerly.
11-16 Knots. Slight sea, Cloudy. The Coastguard requested a launch to assist the Cliff Rescue Team from Berry Head who were unable to reach an animal in distress. A sheep had retreated into an inaccessible crevice at sea level. Two crew members entered the water and recovered the sheep back into the ILB. The animal was landed back on the shore into the custody of the cliff rescue team. |
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Launch 3 Sunday 17th February 2008 Time of launch signal 16:12 Time ILB in the water 16:20 Time at incident 16:30 Time ILB recovered 17:10 Time ILB back on station 17:28 Location: In the Dart, off Stoke Gabriel. Sea state: Wind E. 10 Knots. River calm. Sunny.
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Launch 2 Tuesday 25thDecember 2007 Time of launch signal 10:35 Time ILB in the water 10:47 Time at incident 10:50 Location: Between the Dartmouth and Kingswear Castles Sea state: Wind Westerly.
7-10 Knots. Slight sea, Overcast. A vessel was reported to be drifting out of the river Dart on the ebb tide. The Coast Guard requested that the ILB launch to ascertain if there were any persons on board. The ILB found that the vessel was a drifting tender with a broken mooring line, a cold engine and there were no persons on board. The area was searched to ensure that there were no casualties in the water and the tender was towed back into the Dart and returned to the parent yacht. |
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Launch 1 Saturday 24th November 2007 Time of launch signal 14:43 Time ILB in the water 14:55 Time at incident 14:58 Location: Near the Castle Ledge buoy in the Dart estuary. Sea state: Wind WNW. 10 Knots. Slight sea, Overcast.
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