Pennod 6 Bad Achub Porthdinllaen

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-It's been a special year

-for the Porthdinllaen lifeboat crew.

-After saying farewell to one boat,

-they've welcomed a new one.

-The boathouse was demolished

-and a new one is being built.

-There have been fundraising events,

-training courses and exercises.

-But all along, the work of saving

-lives out at sea has continued.

-It has been

-an exciting year of change...

-..for the crew

-of the Porthdinllaen lifeboat.

-Down in busy London...

-..Mike Davies, the Porthdinllaen

-lifeboat coxswain...

-..has been invited

-to a very special occasion.

-We've been chosen by the lifeboat

-service to come to a tea party...

-..in Buckingham Palace.

-It's just starting to hit me.

-I'm not feeling nervous,

-but excited.

-Why me?

-Why me?

-All I've done is my work.

-I've heard it's for wives too...

-..to thank them.

-It was amazing, really.

-I couldn't believe it

-when Mike came home and said...

-..we'd been invited to represent

-the RNLI at Buckingham Palace.

-He had to pinch me.

-I think he had to pinch himself too.

-The word I'd use is proud.

-I'm proud of my work,

-our team, everything.

-I represent Porthdinllaen here.

-Back in Pwllheli, Mali, one of

-the Porthdinllaen lifeboat crew...

-..is given a lesson in driving

-the lifeboat by Peter Gale...

-..from the RNLI college.

-Now we'll look at driving

-the boat backwards.

-OK. Right!

-I've been learning

-how the engines work.

-The boat has two engines,

-port and starboard.

-I've learnt to turn the boat.

-You pull one engine astern

-and one engine forwards...

-..then she turns.

-It's mainly to get

-a feel for the boat.

-Imagine that the boat's

-centre is here when you steer.

-I understand the theory.

-It's another matter

-to actually do it.

-I'm actually going to steer

-the boat into Pwllheli Marina now.

-So hold tight!

-Entering the harbour, you have

-to watch out for a lot of things.

-What, Pete? Sorry.

-Look over there.

-Oh, yes.

-One gets used to steering at sea.

-This is very different.

-There are traffic rules here.

-You have to concentrate and keep

-an eye out for a lot of things...

-..like water depth under the boat.

-It's quite a responsibility

-to steer a 2.7 million boat.

-I couldn't stop

-thinking about that film...

-..when a big boat went up

-on a pontoon and smashed everything!

-I didn't do that, thankfully.

-After entering the marina safely...

-..the two Caryls get a chance

-to dock the lifeboat at the pontoon.

-I've done it in Porthdinllaen, but

-not in a confined space like this.

-It was a good experience.

-The two Caryls docked successfully.

-But how will Mali fare?

-OK.

-I watched Caryl and Caryl do it.

-It looked easy.

-But when you're up there,

-it's not as easy.

-Am I moving?

-When docking

-or approaching another boat...

-..fenders are put on the side

-so the boat isn't scratched.

-On this occasion,

-thank goodness they were in place.

-The bottom of the boat curves in,

-so you can't see how far it is.

-So it's very important to have

-fenders and the crew watching...

-..in case you scratch the side.

-I don't think Mike would be happy...

-..if we scratched the boat's side.

-Back in London,

-the tea party's over.

-Everyone is leaving the palace.

-How did it go

-for Mike and his wife Fran?

-We walked to the garden, down the

-steps and chose a place to meet.

-The Queen went down one side

-and the Duke of Kent the other.

-Who else was there?

-Prince Edward.

-Prince Edward.

-

-Yes.

-Prince Edward was there and quite

-a few members of the royal family.

-We talked to a few people.

-We had tea, cucumber

-sandwiches, egg sandwiches...

-..scones and clotted cream.

-Very tasty.

-The best thing was the iced coffee.

-It was excellent.

-I think it was the grand occasion.

-It really was very grand,

-special, very well organized.

-Just the atmosphere. Fantastic.

-It was amazing to be part of it.

-This country's good

-at doing that kind of thing.

-I'll never forget it.

-Back in Pwllheli,

-the boat is on its way out again.

-This time, Robat,

-the second coxswain, is in charge.

-Hi!

-You OK? It's nice.

-They're doing a slightly

-different exercise...

-..joined by the Pwllheli

-lifeboat and crew this time.

-BACKGROUND CONVERSATION

-LIFEBOAT RADIO

-Stand by your approach.

-We'll take the heaving line

-off you when you're ready.

-It doesn't often happen.

-We don't see another lifeboat,

-unless we're searching out at sea...

-..working with the Abersoch,

-Pwllheli or Holyhead boat.

-We don't often do

-an exercise with another boat.

-It's nice to see the Pwllheli

-crew for a towing exercise.

-It's flat calm.

-It's a good time to see

-how the boats turn into the wind.

-To tow a big boat

-to Pwllheli from Bardsey...

-..we'd need help

-from the Pwllheli boat.

-If we had a rope on the casualty...

-..we or Pwllheli could be

-behind it, like an anchor.

-There would be three boats in a row.

-It's good to work as a team.

-Although most of the calls RNLI

-Porthdinllaen get involve towing...

-..the crew has

-to be prepared for anything.

-The John D Spicer and the crew...

-..were called out

-to two kayakers in danger...

-..five miles down

-the coast in Porth Ysgaden.

-We were called out

-at about 5.00pm on Sunday...

-..to two kayakers in trouble.

-It was reported that one

-had capsized and lost his oar.

-The other one helped him.

-They were holding

-on to a lobster cage buoy.

-One had been in the water.

-He had managed

-to get back in the kayak.

-They were rather poor quality

-inflatable rubber kayaks.

-The rising wind had affected them.

-They were carried out.

-They were very unstable

-because they were so light.

-We were only ten feet away

-from where we wanted to get to.

-But the current

-was pulling us back each time...

-..as much as we tried.

-Eventually, we were able

-to hold on to a buoy for support.

-We couldn't get in, we couldn't get

-out. We were just marooned, really.

-They did the right thing by holding

-on to a buoy and staying together.

-If they'd separated...

-..one could have capsized again and

-failed to climb back in the kayak.

-They could easily have drowned.

-We thought we were

-being quite sensible.

-We got the gear and we really

-hadn't gone out far at all.

-In a split second...

-..the power of the sea, the tide,

-did take us out so quickly.

-So we feel quite stupid that we put

-so many people's lives at risk.

-But maybe if anything good comes

-out of it, it's to say to people...

-..be so careful whenever

-you're out anywhere at sea.

-Down in St Davids,

-a group of cyclists meet.

-To raise funds

-for the new boathouse...

-..Porthdinllaen lifeboat crew

-members and boathouse builders...

-..are going to cycle 161 miles

-from St Davids to Porthdinllaen...

-..in three days.

-I think I've done enough,

-500 miles or so.

-I've done about 250

-in the last fortnight.

-On the way down, we saw some

-of the hills we'll have to climb.

-I'm a bit worried about them.

-I might have to push the bike!

-I'll try.

-Take it slowly in this weather.

-If I reach New Quay tonight,

-I'll be happy.

-It's not a race.

-We'll take our time.

-We'll do it.

-St Davids' mayor says a few words.

-You've come from one excellent view

-to another one.

-So safe journey,

-have a wonderful time.

-It's going to be a long

-journey back to Lleyn.

-APPLAUSE

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-Subtitles

-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-The lifeboat crew families

-and friends wait eagerly...

-..for the cyclists

-to arrive from St Davids.

-It's part of the campaign

-to raise 100,000...

-..for the RNLI Porthdinllaen

-boathouse appeal.

-After 161 miles,

-the crew's journey is almost over.

-APPLAUSE

-How did it go?

-Fantastic!

-We had a good crew.

-Everyone got on well.

-We all enjoyed ourselves.

-The first day was tough.

-I never want

-to see Llangrannog again.

-The hills!

-They kept on coming.

-For two hours,

-all we had was steep climbs.

-We went up and down,

-along narrow back lanes.

-Knackered!

-I want a nice bath now.

-And just chill out.

-It's been three days

-of seeing Wales at its best.

-The weather and the company

-have been perfect.

-Twenty five of us cycled 161 miles.

-Everyone had low moments.

-But it was a close, friendly crew.

-Everyone supported each other.

-We've arrived.

-It was an unforgettable experience.

-Now there's a chance to relax

-and celebrate with a barbecue...

-..and some beer.

-But it wasn't an easy

-journey for everyone.

-Two of the crew

-had punctures and two crashed.

-I was one of them,

-the day before yesterday.

-I was going downhill too fast.

-I thought the road was

-wider on one corner, but no.

-I ended up in the ditch.

-My legs and knees bled a lot,

-but luckily, Dr Harris was with us.

-As the trip doctor, I took plenty

-of medical supplies with me.

-Thank goodness,

-I didn't have to use too much.

-Bikes broke down more than people.

-Several vehicles followed

-the cyclists to support them.

-Ken Fitzpatrick's campervan

-was the target of some teasing.

-Ken was great. We've taken

-the mick out of the motorhome.

-The campervan has

-been brilliant. The fridge works.

-It kept the drinks cold.

-It hasn't used much diesel.

-I've slept well in it

-for three nights.

-The Porthdinllaen appeal

-got off to a successful start.

-What comes next,

-to reach the total of 100,000?

-We'll see how we've done first.

-We'll wait a few weeks

-and check the texts and website...

-..to see how much we raised.

-We have to collect sponsor forms

-and wait for the money to come in.

-Then we'll think of something else.

-The work on the boathouse has been

-continuing for over ten months.

-Alan Parry has been keeping

-an eagle eye on the work.

-A lot's going on. They're concreting

-the last piece of the floor.

-The diesel tank has just gone in.

-They had to put it in before

-the rest of the building went up.

-They're putting sockets on the

-pillars to support the wooden frame.

-They're doing the exterior

-stone wall too, which looks great.

-The next part of the building will

-be the top half, the wooden frame.

-Then we'll see something

-that resembles a real building.

-People will be able to see the size

-and shape of the boathouse...

-..in the next two or three weeks.

-Everyone's looking forward to the

-new boathouse. We've got the boat.

-All we need now is a boathouse.

-A year has passed since the John

-D Spicer arrived in Porthdinllaen.

-Today, it's going to the port

-of Caernarfon for the first time.

-We did an exercise

-near Llanddwyn Island.

-It's high tide,

-so we could call in Caernarfon.

-People here haven't seen it...

-..although we're only

-down the coast in Porthdinllaen.

-The new boathouse is being built,

-so people can't go on it.

-We've called here. It's a chance

-to have an unofficial open day.

-Does this boat

-have a hole in the bottom?

-No, it doesn't. It goes and rescues

-people with holes in their boats.

-A year without a home

-has been a challenge...

-..in several ways

-for the Porthdinllaen crew.

-Mike can't wait

-to see the building work finish.

-I just want

-the boathouse to be ready.

-We'll have to spend half

-the winter on the water...

-..and dark nights in the bay.

-As soon as we're in the new

-boathouse, we'll have a clean slate.

-It'll be a new beginning for us all.

-As well as being homeless...

-..the crew had to get

-to know the new boat.

-Everyone is getting used to it,

-but new things still crop up.

-I'm still learning, to be honest.

-It plays up a little sometimes,

-especially when it's rough.

-We ask a lot of the crew.

-Everyone has worked hard.

-We're all getting

-up to speed with the new boat.

-On a personal level...

-..I feel a little more

-comfortable than I did a year ago.

-At the end of her first year

-as a full member of the crew...

-..there's no turning back for Mali.

-I'll never forget this year.

-It's opened my eyes to a new world,

-a maritime world.

-If someone told me I'd be doing this

-two or three years ago...

-..I wouldn't have believed it.

-I've taken to it

-more than I expected...

-..and enjoyed it

-much more than I expected.

-Being out at sea is

-very different from my daily work.

-There have been so many experiences.

-Navigation, radar work,

-steering, even first aid.

-The opportunities are great.

-I wouldn't change it for the world.

-Some of the crew have been members

-of the RNLI Porthdinllaen...

-..for decades.

-Now, a new generation wants to join.

-They have a lot of fun,

-but they're good learners.

-My son joined recently.

-A few more are coming through.

-There's a great crew. I want to put

-them on the boarding boat too.

-When the boarding boat

-returns, they clean it.

-Like Formula One, the boys are there

-when the Land Rover comes in.

-It's a good way to learn.

-I decided to join to follow

-in Dad's footsteps. He inspired me.

-I admired him going out. They

-have to go when the pager sounds.

-It's voluntary too.

-I'd love to do that.

-I want to follow in his

-and the family's footsteps.

-Many of the family are

-in the coastguard and the lifeboat.

-It's good to have friends

-like Daniel and Sion here.

-A lot of us joined at the same time.

-We'll be a crew

-all our lives, I hope.

-The future of the Porthdinllaen

-lifeboat crew seems secure.

-There will be a year

-of celebration in 2014 too.

-There will be two celebrations,

-naming the boat and the boathouse...

-..and 150 years since founding

-the Porthdinllaen station.

-It's going to be another busy year.

-It's an honour for us all

-to have a new boat.

-Celebrating 150 years

-is another important chapter for us.

-The lifeboat has been a big part

-of Morfa Nefyn and Porthdinllaen.

-It's always been there.

-It's a great honour to say...

-..I was a member of

-the Porthdinllaen lifeboat crew.

-We're all volunteers.

-We don't get a penny for doing this.

-There's something inside

-every individual on the crew...

-..that makes them

-want to go out on that boat...

-..to rescue people in danger.

-That's the important

-thing at the end of the day.

-We only get one chance.

-It doesn't come often.

-I'm very proud of it.

-The crew should be too

-and everyone who is part of this.

-They've had

-a new boat and boathouse.

-Some stations would give anything

-to have what we've had.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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