Episode 6 Channel Patrol

Stretching from Land's End to Dover,

this is the busiest seaway in the world.

And come hell or high water...

Three, two, one, firing!

No training can ever prepare you for what we faced that night.

..it is open for business 365 days a year.

Over 90% of the world's trade

travels by sea. It is not just TVs and refrigerators,

-it is everything around us.

-Teeming with every type of vessel...

Everyone reckons their job is hardest.

..and a rich diversity of wildlife.

It's kept safe by those who patrol its seaways...

Try and hang onto the boat!

..their actions standing between triumph...

CHEERING

..and disaster...

Ease off, ease off!

..on the unpredictable waters of the English Channel.

Today, RNLI volunteers come to the rescue of some stranded mariners.

-Just the two of you on board?

-Yeah.

-All OK, apart from

-the electrical failure?

-Yes.

The coldest race in the yachting calendar gets underway.

-Sorry, Hugh? Ready. Got that boat..?

-Yes, it's clear.

Just going round.

And pets get caught up in the half-term rush across the Channel.

DOG GROWLS

These are just such wonderful things.

We didn't think it would be this busy.

The English Channel's busy and narrow shipping lanes,

unpredictable weather and shifting sandbanks

means its waters are no stranger to accidents and emergencies.

-Hello, can you hear me?

-Established in 1824,

the RNLI is on the front line of saving lives at sea...

..with more than 4,600 volunteers

crewing an active fleet of over 340 lifeboats.

This is Shoreham, in Sussex, nestled in the heart of the South Coast.

Most of the time, Don Huxley develops websites

for a digital agency in Brighton.

He volunteered for the charity after moving his young family to Shoreham.

Every Sunday, the volunteer crew meets at the lifeboat station,

to develop the skills they need to save lives at sea.

Gloves.

Steve Smith is the Shoreham coxswain in charge of today's operation.

OK, guys, as you all know, we've got a helicopter exercise today.

I'd like Chrissy and Simon to work the deck. Rob,

I'd like you to work the radar and the nav.

Um, Timmy, I'd like you to be the flag man, please.

And Dom is the lucky person that is going up on the lift.

The winchman will be coming down on the boat, Dom is going up.

Dom will then be coming down again and then the winchman will go up and

that'll be the end of the exercise. Just a really quick exercise.

All right. Everyone happy?

One in ten of the RNLI's rescues in the English Channel involve

joint operations with a helicopter.

Teamwork is crucial,

with the RNLI volunteers working in tandem with the professionals

on board the coastguard search and rescue helicopter.

In 2013, the RNLI estimate

325 lives were saved.

And these operations often required winch assistance.

So, RNLI crews often take part in winch-training exercises.

Back at the Shoreham RNLI base,

an old hand gives Dom a word of advice.

When you get to the top, don't even bother reaching out,

-turn, get hold of...

-All right. Yeah.

That'll do you there, Ray, if you can.

With all systems checked,

they are ready to launch.

Could be a big splash.

In a matter of seconds, 32 tonnes of lifeboat heads for the Channel.

'Shoreham lifeboat, send a coastguard.

'We should continue to monitor on zero. Over.'

First chance to get winched up on to the helicopter today.

So, quite exciting thing to do on a Sunday morning.

Usually I am sat at a desk, really, so not as much time outside

as I would like. It is good to just get out, really.

Get out at sea.

The weather is pretty perfect for it today.

You couldn't ask for any calmer.

Dom and the team are now ready to rendezvous with the coastguard

search and rescue helicopter.

Helicopter comes out of the Lee-on-the-Solent.

It will make a couple of passes, it will essentially track the boat

and then they will send their winchman down. I'm going to go up.

It is just like Top Gun, everything.

My life is just like Top Gun.

With the helicopter in position, the winchman makes his descent.

Not a necessity, but if we can get them lifted, I think it is

a good thing to get the crew to do. It gives them an extra buzz.

Something you will never get tired of, being lifted by a helicopter.

-Have you been winched before?

-No, mate. OK.

-Keep your hands by your side.

-OK.

-Just relax.

When you get to the cabin door,

-try and shuffle backwards, OK?

-All right, cool.

Dom gets to see close up just how careful everyone needs to be.

Working two sophisticated and powerful machines alongside

a sea that is rising and falling is a precision manoeuvre.

The helicopter is more stable when moving into the wind rather

than hovering, so both vehicles must

keep moving in the same direction.

Calling for expert flying...

and boat handling skills.

I think it is probably easier for us to pull

the boat in the direction they require and the speed they require.

And hold it on that course.

I think the helicopter has probably got the hardest job.

It's a successful lift off the boat,

but landing back on deck is more risky.

Fantastic, yeah, a real buzz. I was trusting the winchman.

Easy up, easy down, it was great.

You couldn't pick anything better to do, just for a training exercise.

In terms of the commitment,

you might miss the odd birthday party or miss the football,

which is something particularly close to my heart.

Which always seems to happen.

But it is probably more of an issue for family,

when you have to rush out of the house in the middle of the night

and leave the crying baby and stuff.

Doesn't make you massively popular,

but it is all part of the deal, really.

To be on the crew really gives me that connection...

um, with the sea, that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Makes you feel a bit more part of the local community,

living in Shoreham.

Yeah, it gets you down on the beach and out on the sea,

and that's what it's all about, really.

Nearly 37 million passengers crossed

the English Channel in 2014,

with over half choosing the subterranean route.

The Channel Tunnel dips underground in the busy port of Folkestone.

It emerges on the French side 31 miles later,

at Coquelles, near Calais.

The UK Border Agency operates checkpoints here, to ensure

everyone has the correct travel documents.

But it's not just illegal immigrants that can get

stopped at this important border.

Since the introduction of pet passports in 2001, many passengers

now bring their four-legged friends with them to the Continent.

However, smooth passage comes with strict regulations, that can

catch out the unprepared pet owner.

At the Eurotunnel pet centre here, it's the end of the half-term break

and they're expecting one of the busiest days of the year.

'On a day like today,

'we are probably carrying something like'

600 pets and probably 10,000-plus vehicles,

so we are going to have

a lot of traffic on the site throughout the whole day.

Those who took their pets on holiday have to prove their animal

is healthy before it can be let back into Britain.

'The checks are straightforward. Every animal has a microchip

'somewhere on their upper body.'

That microchip links them to a passport.

That passport then has the details of their rabies status,

the last time they had their inoculation.

And also, the last worming treatment they had.

Pets staying abroad longer than five days need to be re-wormed,

in order to get back into the UK.

Slav and his pet Ira were turned away yesterday for this reason.

Today, they have returned to see if they can travel.

I had the worming done this morning.

Six o'clock in the morning.

And I don't know, well, we'll see, I don't know what it looks like.

Let's see if she goes through.

-You are travelling with one dog?

-Yes.

-OK.

So I need your pet passport and your booking, please.

Thank you.

-OK, so your dog name is Ira?

-Ira, yes.

OK, so you just need to go round the neck of your dog.

-No need to press anything.

-OK. Ira. Stay.

-Yes, that's fine.

-OK, thank you.

The microchipping was made in May. All right.

-And then we are going to have to look at the worms treatment.

-Yeah.

OK, so...

-The treatment was made today, this morning. Is that right?

-Yeah.

-OK.

For the worms treatment, you need to

wait 24 hours before travelling, at least, before travelling.

In that case, it was on this morning at six o'clock.

-OK.

-OK.

He is part of the French Eurotunnel staff, who have to enforce

the UK government legislation.

The rules are very, very strict.

And we are just enforcing these rules, actually.

It is so complicated

and I know it can be quite frustrating, actually.

My injections are 97 euros.

The hotel could be anything to 60 euros, 70.

Plus, loss of work.

That's how it is. I am going to have to follow the rules, I suppose.

Slav hopes he and Ira will get back to the UK tomorrow.

In you come.

Sue Thorn and her prize-winning show dog are next to check-in.

-Right, so you want me to do his microchip?

-Yes.

-No need to press anything.

-OK. That's it.

It's easy with him, because his is right there.

My other dog's down under its armpits somewhere.

-So, everything is fine.

-OK, great, thanks very much.

-You are welcome.

Sue's pet has sailed through the medical checks,

so it is time to get some exercise.

Come on, run with it, come on, run!

That's my boy.

Good dog. Go on. Go on, off you go!

Yeah, that's my boy! That's my boy!

Whoa! Yes!

Steady. Steady, steady, steady.

That's my boy. Yes, I know. Ah, ah, ah!

Steady.

Well, you still didn't catch it.

SHE LAUGHS

These people who travel with their pets,

I think they really like their pets.

-That's my boy.

-'It's like, for them,'

they are like their kids.

So.

I use the tunnel because it is just so much easier with the dog.

On the way out this time, I just got in the back with him, put the

back up and read a book for half an hour and kept him company.

obviously, if you are on a boat, you have to leave the dog down on the car deck.

You have that worry, if anything happens, will you be able to go down and get to him, whereas,

I know when they evacuated Eurotunnel a while ago, everybody took

their dogs with them, because nobody would leave their cars otherwise.

SHE LAUGHS

I live for nearly two years in England's and...

I just... I was watching people with animals.

I really think that they really do care about animals in England.

I think I've heard statistics that say that Brits have more dogs

per head of population than probably the French do. And I think we do

like to take our dogs with us, really, when we go on holiday, most of us.

Big dog, big poo.

Beats farting all the way to Folkestone.

SHE LAUGHS

Other British pet owners, like Chris Brain,

-have more sedate best friends.

-That's it.

Robbie is a Norfolk terrier

and accompanies his owner on business trips.

We come backwards and forwards about six times a year,

more if possible. But we've got a place in the Alps,

so he is a regular visitor over there.

We've got a holiday business and he's one of the team.

'We've never had a problem here.'

'Obviously, you've got to make sure your paperwork is in order.'

Oui. Certainly can.

Depending on how many's in here and how big they are,

you do get a few growls now and again and I often have to pick him up and go...

Oh, great, thank you. Thanks.

-Have a nice day.

-Yes, and you, thanks a lot, thanks for your help.

Come on, Rob. Let's go. This way.

Come on.

Don't think you can wee on the door.

Well, that was simple, all done, ready, off we go.

Right, say hello, Rob.

HE LAUGHS If we can get Rob away from the other

dogs, of course, that is.

As the day goes on, the queues never let up,

and it is frustrating for owners and their dogs.

She's also providing entertainment for the people in the cars,

so that is great.

Everybody is happy.

In the pet control office, discipline is highly valued.

OK, who is next?

'Occasionally we get barking and handbags,

I suppose you would call it, between dogs.'

But...as a general rule,

most people who are travelling with their pets have got their

animals pretty well trained before they even think of leaving home.

Some of the owners have been driving for hundreds of miles to get

to Calais.

Carmen has come all the way from Andorra

but with her Great Dane Lola, still manages a matching outfit.

I think the British are a bit pet crazy.

Certainly more than the Spaniards, they are.

Although I am Spanish,

I fit in more with the English mentality towards pets.

And I like looking after my pets.

I like taking her with us.

For Carmen, Lola is all the protection she needs.

I travel alone with two boys

and she is a fantastic guardian.

So, a guard dog, a good guard dog.

Huge, a bit big.

You need a big car with her.

By dusk, most of the 600 pet owners have been processed,

with only eight dogs being turned back.

But John Fielder and his white retriever Lottie could be next.

-I do have a problem here.

-Oh.

The signature is missing on the worms treatment.

Should have signed this.

It looks like, on this occasion, our vet has maybe forgotten to

sign on one of the treatment boxes,

so...I think a minor formality,

I would have hoped, but sometimes these things can be

viewed as very, very important, of course.

Hopefully, we can find a way forward.

The vet's signature is on the documents...

but in the wrong place.

Just make sure next time, really...

-Thank you.

-All right.

-Thank you very much.

Thank you.

-Good sense from our good team at Eurotunnel.

-Yes.

Thank you.

With the Fielder family on their way,

other owners have different problems.

-We haven't got a ticket yet.

-You haven't got a ticket?

-No.

We've got his passport done and it is checked and everything.

-Everything is fine?

-Yes.

-Worms treatment?

-Worm treatment, yes.

OK, 24 hours before travelling?

-Yes.

-OK.

-It lasts us up to one o'clock tomorrow.

-OK.

-So we are hoping we get through before then, obviously.

-OK.

Sarah and Nick have left things a bit late.

They need to buy a ticket and get back to Britain before Georgie

the spinal's worming certificate expires.

We didn't think it would be this busy.

You know, we came back in August, at the end of the six weeks

English holiday and it was nowhere near as busy as this.

More than likely sleep in the car with him.

Just stick it out in the car with Georgie the spaniel tonight.

HE LAUGHS

Luckily, Georgie the spaniel was booked onto the 5.30 train

the next morning, before his paperwork expired.

It's been a busy day at pet control in Calais and for the dog owners of

Britain who prefer the subterranean route across the English Channel.

There are days when people might leave this place,

particularly an evening where you get a little bit

of rain in the air, and the place starts smelling of damp dog, and you

will go home from here and go... HE SNIFFS

You know you've done a good day's work.

HE LAUGHS

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are responsible for the safety

of everyone on board a vessel in UK waters.

They manage four rescue coordination centres on the Channel,

keeping a watchful eye on the waters, 24/7.

'One of the major problems we have, when our yachts come out,'

and some people aren't quite aware of the rules and regulations, and

we don't have any rules in force to ensure that

people on yachts have the adequate training. And, therefore, will

encounter problems with other yachts. Not yachts, but other vessels.

And some of them don't even realise they have to have charts,

in working out the safe passage for getting across, because it is OK

getting on these boats, but you have to remember what is underneath.

You've got tides and currents. You think you're going straight,

but you're not. You're going to go one way or the other.

When distress calls are received,

the coastguard can page the RNLI...

based in 38 stations along the English Channel.

Today, the RNLI's volunteers in New Haven, Sussex,

have received a callout.

They are primed and ready to go.

Coastguard has picked up a Mayday on Channel 16...

for a 17ft,

which is a fairly small boat, four miles off.

And, as far as we know, he's only run down at this time.

The stricken boat's crew is concerned about drifting into the shipping lane.

We've got about ten minutes to run.

And then we will ascertain what is wrong with him.

They have GPS coordinates to help locate the boat,

but it's so small they are struggling to find it.

Apparently, the coxswain has spotted something off our bow,

ahead of us, so it looks like it could be the target vessel.

Yeah, got something in front of us, that could be him.

Nothing showing up on radar, which is a little bit worrying.

With the radar not picking the boat up,

they have to try spot it themselves.

Yes, we've got him in visual about half a mile away now.

No immediate danger to life.

I'll stick the bow in and get Nick to have a chat with them,

just to make sure they are happy, everything is all right on board, the

crew are OK, and then we will explain how we are going to get a tow on.

And we will tow them back to New Haven.

Just the two of you on board?

-Yeah.

-All OK apart from the electrical failure?

-Yes, good.

Are you happy for us to pass a tow, are you happy to go up for it

and connect it, or do you want someone on board to help?

The crew on board the cabin cruiser don't usually fish this far out.

They agree to connect the tow. The heave line is thrown.

The first one misses, but the backup line hits the mark

and manages to connect the two vessels.

All right?

We'll get you up alongside when we get in the harbour.

Right?

OK. Slide him one.

The RNLI can now tow the boat out of the shipping lane

and out of harm's way.

The Orca is kept at a safe distance,

but won't be going to its home port.

She did want to go to Brighton, she's from Brighton.

We are only about four miles off of New Haven,

so I've said I'm not taking him to Brighton.

We're not the AA service. It is a waste of our resources.

And we've got to get back and then we are on back on pagers,

ready for another service that could be more important.

-Everybody is fine.

-Just sounds like an electrical failure.

They've been fishing for cod. They've come up on the flood tide

from Brighton, they've drifted up with the flood tide,

up to New Haven and then they've realised their engine won't start.

So, they put a Mayday out. Not technically a Mayday.

The definition of a Mayday is grave and imminent danger.

Uh, these guys are not in grave and imminent danger.

They had an electrical failure of their outboard motor.

Lovely day today, nice and calm.

And a pan-pan, an urgency message, to say

they had broken down and drifted would have been suffice.

But the main thing is they've got out a call for assistance

urgently and the lifeboat has gone out and done the job.

But the job isn't over yet.

Towing a dead boat back to port

and getting it alongside is always a delicate operation.

The seascape around the Port of Southampton

is dominated by the traffic on its water.

Huge container ships...

are intersected by leisure yachts under sail.

Across the UK, leisure boating is growing in popularity,

with nearly 3.5 million of us taking to the water every year.

Whilst summer is peak yachting season,

the hardiest of sailors race in the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's

Frostbite series between January and March.

The competition was set up 20 years ago

and, today, it draws amateurs and seasoned racers from far and

wide, looking to start their sailing year with a chilly challenge.

It's a beautiful day.

The Malice team is made up of nine crew,

with day jobs ranging from chefs to customer services.

But at the weekend they are all hardened competitors.

At the helm, as skipper, is architect Mike Moxley.

I do an office job and spend a lot of my time sitting around talking

to people.

And actually, getting out on the water, it's a

completely different environment.

Often being out of radio contact, you don't

get anything like that, almost anywhere else in life any more.

Maybe if you go mountain climbing.

On a day like today, it's nothing but pleasure,

providing it all goes right, from the point of view of racing.

And what you're looking for, in racing, is not a walkover

but competing against people who you can have

a good scrap with.

The Malice team is currently top of the leaderboard

in the tournament, with three points after two races.

We did really well. Just consistency, really, is the key.

I think we had a first and a second, which meant

that we were first.

-It is a pretty good feeling.

-OK, coming up.

A strong performance in today's race is critical to give them

a good chance of winning the series.

As this is winter,

the weather along the Channel is especially unpredictable,

meaning it is rarely smooth sailing and anything could happen.

Today, the wind will be across Southampton Water,

which should mean that we have a fairly energetic race.

There is a huge amount of wind shear.

Absolutely enormous.

Winter weather means the wind direction can quickly shift,

making life difficult when racing yachts.

Malice and her crew head for the start line in Southampton Water

for the four-mile race.

Experienced sailor Hugh Phillips' job is chief navigator.

His first task is to help them get off the start line.

A good start can make or break a race.

OK, ease on the jib for now, ease right off.

Ease on the main, I want to dawdle. OK, another jibe.

Five, four, three, two, one.

'This is Royal Southampton race control, that was the start for class one,

'as the line was clear.'

Straight away, there is a problem for Team Malice.

Another boat blocks their clear path off the start line.

Lee-Oh!

OK, weight up. Weight forward.

Ease off, ease off, everybody.

The start wasn't particularly brilliant. We were a bit off the line but

we got trapped by that other boat which was below us, just before the start, pushed us up

and we then had to dip down underneath him.

And that took us away from the line.

The course is triangular and marked with orange buoys.

We are underway, we are just approaching, we've got about...

seven minutes to go until the first mark.

Where will be turning left and hoisting the spinnaker.

The flawed start means Team Malice must now play

catch-up on the first stretch of the race.

Right, I want attack.

On this first leg, the wind is not behind them.

So they must sail in a zigzag fashion, to try

to catch the wind in their sails.

-Is that full engine?

-Yes.

But the wintry weather keeps everyone on their toes.

Of course it is coming back the other way again.

To be in with a chance of winning,

they must react quickly to the changeable gusts of wind.

Certainly within our knowledge, actually predicting where the

shifts are is extremely difficult.

It is just turbulence coming off the land.

As they approach the first turn,

the leaders of the eight-boat race are already rounding it.

Malice is towards the back, in a tight cluster of several boats.

This one's...

a bit closer than I'd like them to be.

Right, Lee-Oh.

Bearing away now.

OK, Hugh, you're just to play it as best you can.

We're trapped by Jynnan Tonnyx.

OK. Are you going to go...

Yet again, Malice has to give way to another boat

that's slightly ahead of them.

..away.

Their competitors catch a good breeze and surge forwards

on to the second leg.

In fact, we're...

Push the boom out, please!

We've got a ship just at the wrong minute.

Malice frantically makes the turn

but they've missed the wind and are now at the back of the pack.

No, we lost a few places there, unfortunately.

We let two boats...

Well, one boat got there before us and then we let two get past us,

so there's three, actually, at the mark,

which was a bit disappointing.

We had a wind shift right at the last minute

and we ended up on the wrong side.

Never mind.

It just means we got to catch them now and overtake.

The team's position in the series leaderboard is now in the balance.

On the second stretch, the team must unleash the large spinnaker sail

which is specifically designed for use when sailing

in the same direction as the wind.

Getting it up quickly could help them accelerate

and close the gap on the opposition.

OK, pull back a bit, please, I want to go deep.

As bowman, Clare Tyler has one of the most critical jobs on the team -

organising the lines of the Malice.

One wrong move and the vessel can become disabled.

I don't think we're winning.

I don't normally look up. I'm looking at bits of string...

The race,

I don't even know which way we're going sometimes

cos we were doing a triangle and the breeze dropped, so...

I tend to focus on what I'm doing.

Skipper Mike remains optimistic about their chances.

No, it's not...

not going brilliantly at the moment, but we will catch up.

Oh, we're getting a bit of breeze.

With a little patience, things finally start going their way.

We've got a bit more wind now

and we've just had a lift,

which means the wind has shifted in our favour, so with a bit of luck...

This boat's really good upwind, so we've got a chance of catching up.

-We need to tack.

-Right, ready about.

-Wait, wait...

-Hang on, hang on, it's gone back.

Just count to ten, Hugh. Don't go too quickly.

The moment comes to angle the sales to harness the wind.

-Right, let's tack.

-OK, ready about.

-Ready!

-Lee-Oh!

Right, ready about.

We're ready.

-Getting a head in.

-That's a huge header, Hugh.

Well, it's just going... It's all over the place.

It's shifting by 50-60 degrees. Right, let's tack.

No, we've got this guy...

Sorry, Hugh.

-Ready?

-Yeah, we're ready.

The changeable winds are playing havoc with Malice's tactics.

OK, that's another huge header, I'm afraid, Hugh.

Oh, sugar.

-Absurd, this wind. Absolutely mad.

-No, we're just timing it wrong.

-Right, let's go for it, quick.

-Get ready.

-Yep, we're ready.

-Lee-oh.

-Hang on, it's shifted back again.

-OK.

As the wind is finally in their favour, they gain ground...

You got that boat, Hugh?

Yeah, yeah, it's clear ahead.

..but they're dangerously close to the boat ahead.

We're about to touch him, Mike.

Slow boat, slow boat.

Then, disaster strikes.

That guy is hitting us.

No.

Did we?

That boat was so slow just in front of them and Mike didn't see it,

we just nudged his back, so it's made a bad day even worse.

Colliding with another boat means Team Malice must now complete

two penalty turns, losing them vital minutes.

OK, bearing away. We'll do the turns...

Just going around, jibe.

OK, right, round again.

OK, sheet in.

So, I think, probably, it's fair to say we're down the pan on this race.

Right, where's the breeze, guys?

There's a patch of breeze over there.

Is there one over there?

Team Malice might not be able to win this race,

but they're fighting hard not to come last.

OK, hang on.

We fallen in to no wind again.

On their last chance to make up any ground,

a cargo boat, literally, takes the wind out of their sails.

That's a good wall of steel.

Well, I can honestly say that we're going to be comprehensively last.

Today has not been Malice's race...

but they're finishing with a final burst of speed.

Hugh, we're just coming up to the line. Are you ready?

Drop now.

KLAXON SOUNDS

The race is over and Malice have come in last.

So, every manoeuvre we did, the wind changed against us.

Part of the skill of this game is trying to anticipate

what the wind does and anyway, we got it wrong just about every single time

and it happens.

The Malice crew

has the chance to make peace with the boat they collided with.

-So, sorry about that.

-All right.

No damage?

For now, it's time to head back to the clubhouse,

where Mike and his crew can drown their sorrows

and regroup for the rest of the competition.

I don't believe it.

The Channel is a popular destination for amateur sailors

in yachts, dinghies, sail and motorboats.

The freedom of the seas means

you don't need any qualifications, training or a licence

to sail for pleasure in the Channel...

..but inexperienced skippers in the world's busiest shipping lane

are not a good mix,

so the RNLI are on hand to avert disaster.

Off the coast of Newhaven,

the RNLI volunteers are currently out on a shout,

towing back a leisure boat with an electrical fault

that was drifting in the shipping lane.

They had to down tools at their day jobs to respond to the scene.

I was painting up at a school,

a local school, as the kids were on half term.

I was up there with a lick of paint, to freshen all the corridors.

Funnily enough, one of the staff members came by and said,

"I've noticed we haven't had any shouts for a while,"

and approximately five minutes later, the pagers went off,

so I'll blame him when I get back and he can put the kettle on.

I was just off duty at home when the pager went off, ironing.

On an RNLI lifeboat, the coxswain is in charge of the boat at sea.

They make all the decisions during a rescue operation

and part of their job is to train future leaders.

We got a trainee coxswain on board at the moment.

It's quite easy to go out on a Sunday and practise

and do this, that and the other but on a real job,

you have to start thinking.

Mark should now be thinking

how he's going to get alongside when we get in Newhaven

without squashing it, because we've got 44 tonnes of boat here

and that's only a little 17-foot cabin cruiser.

He should be doing some thinking now.

It's exciting.

No, it's good.

It's good to have the opportunity to practise in a real-life situation.

I think the issue is it's quite a tiny boat

and when we tie the boat alongside us here,

putting it alongside the pontoon will be interesting

because we're a very heavy boat relative to the tiny boat there

so we need to be very careful that, I guess, we don't squash her

so we'll play it carefully.

The first test for Mark

is to determine how fast he can tow such a small boat.

Yeah, were going along about 5.5 knots here

so, yes, it's a safety issue

and, obviously, the faster we go, the more wash we create

which makes it a bit more of an uncomfortable and unsafe ride

for the guys being towed.

For safety reasons,

they must keep the rescued crew on board the Orca

informed about the procedure to get them in to harbour.

Mike the mechanic tries to make contact.

Vessel Orca, this is Newhaven lifeboat, channel 67, over.

Go ahead, over.

Vessel Orca, this is Newhaven lifeboat.

Our intention, sir, once we've proceeded further north

is to bring you alongside our starboard side.

We will fender our vessel.

If you proceed to put fenders out on your starboard side,

we will then put you on the visitors' berth, over.

It seems the electrical fault with their engine isn't their only problem.

For whatever reason, he can't hear our transmission,

so potentially, his radio might be running low

and he's able to transmit, but he's not able to receive.

I assume his radio is just about to drop off.

I'm just going to try on a different radio, to confirm

that it's definitely his radio and not our radio.

Vessel Orca, Vessel Orca,

this is Newhaven lifeboat, Newhaven lifeboat,

channel 67, over.

And that proves my point.

With no comms to the Orca,

the operation will be even more dangerous.

The volunteers have no choice but to proceed with the operation

while the Orca's crew remains in the dark about how they'll be manoeuvred to safety.

Were just going to shorten up the tow now, secure him alongside

and just pop him alongside the visitors' berth,

so the coastguards can get his details

and he can effect his repairs.

But there's another logistical problem to contend with -

a cross-channel ferry is about to leave the port

and they need to get the Orca out of the way.

Yeah, we've got about five minutes to get this alongside

and tied up and out of the way

before the ferry leaves to go to France.

They pull the Orca tight to the lifeboat

so they can effectively carry her to the jetty

and push her into the visitors' berth,

but it's a tricky manoeuvre.

Er, a slight breeze here, which is blowing us of the quay.

Boat handling, with a 44-tonne boat with a small thing strapped alongside,

is not a very pleasant thing to do on the best of days.

This is good practice for Mark.

They'll thrust out a little bit...

Just a little bit.

Trainee coxswain Mark is doing his best to stop the lifeboat

crushing the cabin cruiser against the quay.

They'll thrust in. Keep it there, keep it there.

Now we've got them alongside,

we're just going to get alongside ourselves

and make sure the boat's ready to go to sea whenever it needs to

and we'll go back to the boathouse and have a cup of tea.

With the boat safely attached to dry land,

the anglers have a chance to reflect on their rescue.

We headed out this morning, sat there happily fishing

until we realised we had to get out of the shipping lanes

cos they won't stop for no-one.

That's when we realised there was a problem with the big engine,

so I got the little baby engine out, which is new,

and it decided to oil up and I'd forgot me tools,

so it's a good lesson for us.

With the Orca out of harm's way, the giant ferry can leave for France

and the RNLI lifeboat is moored up,

ready for the next callout on the Channel.