Episode 5 of 6 Dilyn y Don

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-Most of us associate the port of

-Holyhead with crossing to Ireland...

-..on large ferries

-bound for Dublin or Dun Laoghaire.

-But merchant vessels

-and pleasure boats use the port too.

-The Coastguards

-have their headquarters here.

-They're responsible for safety

-along the north and west coasts.

-Emergency calls to lifeboats

-are sent from this control room.

-When we get a message

-that someone's in danger...

-..we ask the caller

-what they've seen, where and when.

-Someone will then phone the lifeboat

-secretary with all the details.

-He tells us

-to page the lifeboat crew.

-They then take the boat out

-on the rescue.

-Holyhead Coastguard. You're allowed

-to clear channel zero.

-Coastguards have no authority over

-lifeboats, as the RNLI is a charity.

-Holyhead must make

-a formal request...

-..for the 'Hetty Rampton'

-to be launched.

-As a matter of courtesy,

-the crew notify the Coastguards...

-..when they're

-on training exercises.

-It's midsummer at Porthdinllaen,

-and the beach is busy.

-Jetskis are roaring around swimmers

-- there's an obvious danger.

-An auxiliary Coastguard officer

-keeps on eye on things...

-..as he carries out his duties

-around Nefyn.

-When the lifeboat goes out...

-..either we go or the Llandwrog

-Coastguard goes too.

-It depends on where the call is.

-We often deal with sailing boats...

-..that haven't returned

-when they were due.

-They may have stopped somewhere

-on the way without telling anyone.

-Most calls involve pleasure boats,

-wind surfers or jetskis.

-We rarely see a local fishing boat

-getting into difficulties...

-..they're familiar with the sea

-and the weather.

-It's outsiders

-who usually get into trouble.

-There's one full-time Coastguard

-in this area, based in Criccieth.

-He deals mostly with paperwork.

-Auxiliary work

-involves cliff rescue...

-..and looking out for people

-who may be in danger.

-We have binoculars,

-including ones for use at night...

-..and pyrotechnics,

-parachute flares and so on.

-We have ropes for cliff rescues.

-We help to direct the lifeboat.

-If a boat's in serious trouble,

-a helicopter is called out.

-We all work as a team, although

-we're not based in the same place.

-When the Porthdinllaen lifeboat

-is called out...

-..they are directed

-by the Coastguards.

-The lifeboat has a crew of 17

-but only six are needed at one time.

-The coxswain, Robert or Pete,

-chooses the crew.

-They try to ensure

-that everyone gains experience.

-Huw Williams

-is the youngest crewman.

-Today, Gareth and Dylan

-accompany him on an exercise.

-Robert

-tests the navigation equipment.

-Pete and Mike Dean are steering.

-Robert has been visiting this

-boat yard on the Isle of Wight.

-Lifeboats are built here in Cowes.

-The aim is to upgrade the fleet

-regularly.

-RNLI specialists design the boats...

-..in consultation

-with lifeboat crews.

-It's the crews who get to know the

-boats' strengths and weaknesses...

-..in real working conditions.

-Not all lifeboats are the same.

-Stations have various requirements.

-In a few weeks,

-this shell will look like this.

-This is a Severn class boat.

-It's the largest type,

-costing about 1.5 million.

-Its size means it must be

-permanently moored on the water.

-This boat is going to Ireland.

-Robert had a chance

-to take a look at it...

-..and admire its design

-and technology.

-I'm sitting in the helmsman's

-or coxswain's seat.

-That's a VHF direction finder.

-It tells you

-where a signal's coming from.

-There are cameras in the engine room

-and in the stern.

-This boat has a bow thruster,

-a small propeller in the hull.

-It's used to move the boat sideways,

-because it's so large and heavy.

-There's a radar set,

-electronic charts and a plotter.

-The differential GPS

-works off a satellite.

-It's accurate to within a few feet.

-We only had a radar set

-on the old boat...

-..and it wasn't very good.

-Today we have all kinds

-of electronic gadgets.

-We have regular training,

-so the crew know how to use them.

-They make the work easier. It's

-a matter of getting used to them.

-Crews receive thorough training

-at the RNLI headquarters in Poole...

-..before they use a new boat. This

-includes training with a helicopter.

-This is the most exciting part

-of training.

-The crew also learn how to use the

-new technology on board the boat.

-In a few days' time, the crew

-will sail the boat to Ballyglass...

-..on the west coast of Ireland.

-The RNLI operates

-around the Irish coast as well.

-The 'Bryan and Gordon' may well

-deal with calls like this.

-A small sailing boat, the 'Pelican'

-has capsized off Lleyn.

-It has lost its mast.

-Another boat has picked up

-the two on board...

-..and they're heading back

-to the harbour.

-Although no lives are at risk...

-..the Coastguards have asked

-the Porthdinllaen lifeboat...

-..to escort the two boats.

-So far this year...

-..lifeboats have helped nearly

-4,500 people to reach dry land.

-In 1,200 cases,

-their lives were at risk.

-Most of the calls, over 3,000

-of them, are similar to this one...

-..a pleasure boat in difficulty

-but no lives at risk.

-This is child's play

-for the 'Hetty Rampton'.

-Calls like this

-don't warrant such a powerful boat.

-But they must prepare for the worst.

-The Porthdinllaen lifeboat

-has had some serious calls.

-The next call could really test

-each crew member's skills...

-..and the lifeboat's resources.

-That's the reality for the RNLI.

-

-There hasn't been a call

-for two weeks...

-..so RNLI regulations require them

-to hold a training exercise...

-..to make sure the boat and

-the equipment work satisfactorily.

-It's a chance

-to get used to the new technology.

-Each crewman has had training

-in all aspects of their work.

-The coxswain, Peter Jones,

-knows his crew's strengths.

-A lot of the training takes place

-in RNLI House in Morfa Nefyn.

-Tonight is a big night

-for one crew member.

-The recovery position.

-The recovery position.

-

-Fine. We'll move the casualty

-out of the way.

-She can't go into recovery position!

-Emyr Williams

-is sitting a first aid exam.

-He feels rather apprehensive.

-I'm quite nervous.

-I'd done another RNLI course

-but this one's different.

-You're dealing with people in this

-course. You have to be on the ball.

-The other course was a radio course.

-It was quite easy.

-This course is very different.

-That's fine.

-Once I'm in the recovery position...

-..what else can you do?

-Not going to go out for a cigarette,

-are you?

-Can't remember!

-The airway?

-The RNLI has different levels

-of first aid qualifications.

-Regular progress

-is expected of the crew members.

-The training is geared towards

-situations which could arise at sea.

-Pretend that's my mouth.

-Push it in like that...

-..then turn it round

-and push it in.

-Good. Airway's now in.

-What other equipment could help?

-Good. Airway's now in.

-What other equipment could help?

-

-Oxygen.

-Well done. That's very good.

-I thought it would be

-more difficult.

-I hope I've been successful.

-I just hope I've passed.

-After his exam success...

-..Emyr can relax with the rest

-of the crew and their families.

-This is a fundraising evening.

-They hope to make a decent profit.

-There's great excitement

-in Morfa Nefyn!

-Some try to cheat but the little

-horses are a great success!

-Steering a lifeboat is easier than

-steering these in a straight line!

-No fortunes were won or lost -

-not tonight, anyway.

-The raffle and other activities

-have raised about 2,000.

-The people of Morfa Nefyn

-are very resourceful.

-Tonight, there's yet another

-fundraising event for the lifeboat.

-It's a big event

-in the Porthdinllaen calendar.

-Administration officer Tom Morris

-has high hopes.

-Ready for tonight?

-Ready for tonight?

-

-Yes. Dewi's

-supposed to prepare everything.

-The boat's alright?

-The boat's alright?

-

-Yes, it is.

-Fishing lines ready?

-Fishing lines ready?

-

-Yes.

-And a lifejacket?

-And a lifejacket?

-

-Of course.

-And a lifejacket?

-

-Of course.

-

-Good.

-Let's hope the weather stays fine.

-Let's hope the weather stays fine.

-

-See you this evening!

-Mike Dean and his family

-are setting off early.

-Mike needs to find a partner.

-Here's the attraction -

-the annual mackerel race.

-Nia has finished her shift

-at the shop.

-Did you get everything ready?

-Did you get everything ready?

-

-Yes, except a reel.

-Dewi has organised a boat,

-so the family can compete.

-Mike's here early

-because he wants to find a boat.

-Nia and Dewi are going

-on a friend's boat.

-Caryl's really looking forward

-to the trip and the fishing.

-Mike settles his family first.

-The girls prefer to catch crabs.

-Mike is still hoping for a boat.

-They're enjoying themselves.

-There are plenty of boats here.

-Peter collects

-the competitors' fees.

-He will be starting the race.

-The race is on to catch the most

-mackerel in the next two hours.

-We have 33 boats out there today.

-Each competitor pays a pound...

-..so we've made about 150 already.

-When they return,

-we count the mackerel.

-The one who catches the most

-gets a prize.

-Then we sell the mackerel.

-A big crowd comes to watch.

-Mike is happy to take part.

-But there aren't many mackerel

-about, for some reason.

-It's the same for Dewi and Nia -

-no luck so far.

-Someone gets a bite - it's

-Robert Jones, the second coxswain.

-Filling these boxes

-will be quite a job.

-At last, Dewi's caught something

-but it's not a mackerel.

-Finding the mackerel is difficult.

-But once you find a large shoal,

-you can catch a lot.

-Today, those who go out three

-or four miles have the best chance.

-The weather has been stormy

-this week.

-Storms scatter

-the mackerel shoals...

-..making them harder to catch.

-After two hours,

-it's time to call everyone back.

-No-one's done very well this year.

-Very poor this evening.

-We got about 50.

-Very poor.

-We should have caught a lot more.

-How many have you got?

-That's not bad, considering

-there aren't many around.

-That's not bad, considering

-there aren't many around.

-

-We did well, I think.

-This is Michael Massarelli,

-a partner of Mike Dean's.

-It looks promising. They seem to be

-among the most successful.

-They hope to be

-in the frame somewhere.

-How did it go, Mike?

-How did it go, Mike?

-

-Champion! We got 45.

-But the fishing was poor,

-I don't know why.

-How was it out there?

-How was it out there?

-

-Not bad, but the wind's

-getting up now.

-Are you satisfied?

-Are you satisfied?

-

-Yes, on the whole.

-Will you win?

-Will you win?

-

-I hope so!

-Nia and Dewi seem satisfied too.

-How did they do?

-How did it go, Nia?

-We got about 40, I think

-and one gurnard and one cod.

-Not bad!

-Not bad!

-

-Pleased?

-Not bad!

-

-Pleased?

-

-Yes.

-At first,

-I thought we wouldn't get any.

-But we went further out

-and we caught a few.

-But we went further out

-and we caught a few.

-

-How many did you catch, Caryl?

-Not one!

-Not one!

-

-None!

-Did it get better?

-Did it get better?

-

-Yes, it did.

-How many are there?

-How many are there?

-

-About 40, I think.

-It got better towards the end.

-We got one good cod.

-It was disappointing

-compared to last year...

-..with mackerel in short supply.

-There's usually more than enough

-for everyone...

-..but no-one's caught more than 50

-tonight, which is unusual.

-But the number of mackerel

-isn't really important.

-It's the money raised that counts.

-A large crowd had gathered

-by the time the boats returned.

-Many were visitors...

-..who were happy to support

-the Porthdinllaen lifeboat.

-There were 33 boats this year -

-that's a record.

-But they didn't catch

-as many mackerel as usual.

-Such events make the lifeboat

-an important part of social life.

-There's no lack of support

-because people enjoy these events.

-The winners were given

-an enthusiastic reception.

-Mike Dean and his partners

-came second...

-..with a fairly respectable haul.

-They had caught 48 mackerel.

-Michael Massarelli

-is quite satisfied.

-Who could improve on that?

-In first place this year,

-one of the crew of the lifeboat...

-..Dewi Parry Thomas

-and his wife, Nia...

-..with 49 mackerel.

-We did count them very carefully!

-No-one asked for a recount,

-the adjudication was accepted!

-The few spare mackerel

-were sold quickly to visitors.

-Everyone enjoyed themselves...

-..and more funds were raised

-for the Porthdinllaen lifeboat.

-Subtitles

-by

-Nia Melville, Elidir