Pennod 5 Bad Achub Porthdinllaen

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-Porthdinllaen

-is on Lleyn's northern coast.

-It has been a RNLI lifeboat

-station for almost 150 years.

-It's a focal point

-of the Morfa Nefyn area.

-Builders, carpenters,

-a postman and even a milkman.

-The volunteers are ready to risk

-their lives when the call comes.

-It's been an exciting year of

-changes, a new home and a new boat.

-This is the first time...

-..that a milestone for the RNLI

-Porthdinllaen is chronicled.

-It's May.

-The women of the Porthdinllaen

-crew, Caryl Jones, Caryl Thomas...

-..Mali and Lisa, home

-from college for two weeks...

-..have come to Pwllheli Marina.

-But they're not going out to sea.

-A reporter from a national women's

-magazine is waiting to meet them.

-A woman from The Lady magazine

-has come to talk with the girls.

-They found out there are

-four women on the crew.

-They wanted to hear

-about their work on the lifeboat.

-I like having women on the boat.

-There's good banter

-and they do the job.

-Especially the navigation

-and writing...

-..their tidy handwriting is great!

-My name is Caryl and I'm eighteen.

-I'm in college at the moment,

-studying childcare.

-Right.

-I hope to go on cruise ships

-to work with children.

-From one boat to another!

-I didn't feel nervous.

-The woman made me feel calm.

-It's important to show

-the magazine readers...

-..how important it is

-to have women on the lifeboat...

-..that there is equal opportunity.

-And you have another job?

-And you have another job?

-

-I'm a cadet in the merchant navy.

-Another one!

-Lisa has been a student at Fleetwood

-Nautical College for almost a year.

-She travels round the world

-as a Trainee Deck Officer.

-But even on holiday, she's still

-a member of the lifeboat crew.

-It's a help, to see women's faces.

-I knew that you'd joined

-when I joined.

-Times are changing.

-I must admit I always thought...

-..that it was a man's world.

-As a child, I saw Dad going out.

-I wanted to go too.

-I've wanted to join

-the lifeboat crew since I was young.

-When I signed the papers to join...

-..one question was, "Can you

-swim 50 metres in your clothes?"

-I couldn't swim at all!

-LAUGHTER

-I said I could!

-Mali was the last to be interviewed.

-Have you got any family connections?

-I'm engaged to the second coxswain!

-Now it comes out!

-I'm engaged to Robat,

-the second coxswain.

-I've known Robat for many years.

-Robat is a Morfa Nefyn lad.

-He has his own building business.

-He works in the village mostly...

-..with Emyr, another crew

-member, who is a labourer.

-They're lucky to have work

-in the Morfa Nefyn area.

-They're crew members

-who can respond to calls...

-..between nine and five.

-Not everyone works

-nearby during the day.

-We've been out together

-on shouts a few times.

-When he's on call and Mike is away,

-he's in charge of the boat.

-I remember one shout in the night.

-The pager went off

-and I was dressed and ready to go...

-..while Robat was tying his laces

-slowly, not rushing at all.

-I said, "Come on, hurry!"

-It's good to share an interest.

-On paper, as second coxswain, he's

-the boss when we're on the boat.

-But I like to think

-I'm really the boss!

-One fine summer morning,

-children from Ysgol Edern...

-..are going to learn

-about the new boathouse.

-They've come to Porthdinllaen

-to meet some of the crew.

-Alan has a pager and so do I.

-When it bleeps...

-...the lads come here, get in the

-boat which goes down the slipway.

-But they can't do that now.

-There's no slipway or boathouse.

-Early next year, the new

-boathouse will be finished.

-You can see pictures

-when we go down there.

-If you return next year,

-you can go on the boat.

-Ooh!

-You can walk around it.

-The RNLI and the building company...

-..are keen for the community

-to feel part of the process.

-They encourage people to come

-to see how the work is progressing.

-Look under the window, on the wall.

-That's how the new

-boathouse will look.

-Mike keeps a watchful

-eye on the site

-This will be

-the back of the boathouse.

-The road stays as it is.

-The first floor will be

-where those men are.

-Doors will lead

-to a viewing gallery.

-Those men are standing

-where the big boat will be.

-The front and the doors

-will be where the blue bucket is.

-That shows the size

-of the boat in the boathouse.

-It's huge.

-That green part is Alan's workshop.

-That's the ground floor.

-On the second floor, above it...

-..that's the crew room.

-There will be viewing

-platforms all around.

-It's quite big.

-A very unusual boat

-has reached the site.

-This is a jack-up barge.

-The legs go down to the sea bed.

-There are hydraulic

-rams on each leg.

-They can use them like jacks.

-They could jack them

-right to the top.

-It's just above the sea,

-so it's level.

-It'll be here for three

-or four months.

-It might be less, if all goes well.

-If not, it might

-be here a bit longer.

-It's an exciting time for us.

-We've been waiting for years.

-Then we heard we'd get

-a new boat and boathouse too.

-That's what we want now,

-to see the lifeboat in here.

-I can't wait.

-In the meantime, the crew from

-Ysgol Edern enjoy a picnic lunch.

-Do they know

-the colour of a lifeboat?

-Orange.

-Is there another colour?

-Is there another colour?

-

-Blue.

-What job would you do on a lifeboat?

-Drive.

-Drive.

-

-Drive.

-Go fast.

-And if no-one is watching...

-..I'd go up to a hundred.

-I'd like to save people

-who have been hurt in the water.

-Then I'd climb out of the boat...

-..with a ladder.

-I'd get a rope and throw it

-to them and tow them back.

-The future of the Porthdinllaen

-lifeboat crew is in safe hands.

-For the present crew,

-the work continues.

-Calls can come at any time...

-..even at very inconvenient times.

-I just had lunch and sat down...

-..to watch the most exciting part

-of the Grand Prix, the start.

-My pager went off.

-When I got to the top,

-Mike was here.

-He said that Pod's boat

-had broken down.

-It was good to hear

-that's what it was...

-..rather than having to look for

-someone who had fallen overboard.

-Eight miles north

-of Porthdinllaen...

-..the Ronan Orla, a local fishing

-boat, with owner Gareth Pod Jones...

-..was in trouble.

-I went out in the morning, as usual.

-When I was lifting the last pots,

-the engine stopped.

-I went down to look at it.

-Diesel was flowing

-out of the injector pump.

-I tried to repair it,

-in order to get home.

-The light was on in the engine room.

-I used up the battery

-with the light.

-I didn't have a VHF

-or anything to call anyone.

-I had to use my mobile

-to phone the coastguard.

-Local fishermen are quite good

-when someone breaks down.

-They tow each other in.

-It was a bit too choppy that day.

-Gareth has a big boat.

-The others would have

-struggled to tow him in.

-As the afternoon went on,

-the wind rose.

-They said it might

-go up to Force Six or Seven.

-When we arrived, it was easily

-a Force Six. It was quite choppy.

-Mike and the crew were still

-learning to use the new boat.

-They had to use

-a different technique...

-..not the technique

-they used on the old boat.

-This was the first time we had

-some swell to really test it.

-To be honest, I missed Hetty.

-With Hetty, I could have

-gone under the bow...

-..and given the bloke the rope.

-But the new boat is very heavy,

-with a lot of windage.

-You have to bring

-the bow round all the time.

-I had to really focus

-or I'd be on top of him.

-Despite this, the boat was

-attached and towed back safely...

-..to its anchorage in Porthdinllaen.

-That's what we're here for.

-I'm glad they call us out.

-That's our job.

-There's no need to feel ashamed.

-The next day, the boat had been

-repaired and Pod was back at work.

-This is my first year.

-It's been quite good.

-I've had problems.

-That's to be expected

-in the first year.

-It's like every job.

-There's risk in everything.

-It happens to everyone in turn.

-Every fisherman here

-has been towed in on occasion.

-A lot of the men don't like

-having their noses rubbed in it.

-You have to be realistic.

-If you break down, that's that.

-You have to put your hands up

-and accept it, I'm afraid!

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-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-In Pwllheli Marina,

-Mike the coxswain...

-..and Alan the chief mechanic

-are cleaning the lifeboat.

-Because the boat's new, we get

-four inspections in the first year.

-It's to make sure

-we look after it properly...

-..that we work well together

-and are settling down.

-The boat's on the mooring,

-so it's harder to keep clean.

-We come to Pwllheli

-because it's easier to clean here.

-Regular RNLI inspections

-are essential...

-..to maintain high standards for

-crews and boats all around Britain.

-But there is more pressure on Mike,

-Alan and the crew with the new boat.

-I am nervous.

-If you're not nervous...

-..you'll miss something.

-I take it seriously.

-I don't want them to see

-a dirty boat or any problem.

-The boat should always be 100%.

-I want that code every time.

-There is no second best.

-I set out like that eleven years

-ago. That's how I want to continue.

-A clean ship is a happy ship.

-RNLI Porthdinllaen

-is close to the community.

-Every year, locals and visitors

-give generously to the charity.

-With all the changes

-in the coming year...

-..the crew needs support

-from the area and further afield.

-The boathouse and boat cost

-a lot of money for the RNLI.

-They asked us to try

-to raise part of the money.

-We're hoping to raise 100,000.

-We're launching the appeal

-this evening with a hog roast...

-..to set the ball rolling.

-In a few weeks time...

-..we've organized a bike ride

-from St Davids to Porthdinllaen.

-More than 30 cyclists

-will take part.

-Builders from the BAM

-Nuttall company...

-..a few crew members

-and Mike the coxswain...

-..Morgan Jones

-and some of his friends.

-I think there are 32 in all.

-It's the first fundraising

-event in the coming year...

-..as the crew and locals

-aim to raise 100,000.

-It's good to get

-together to raise money.

-People feel

-they've helped the station.

-There has been support,

-but not like this.

-The boathouse was

-here for a century.

-There was no need to raise money.

-This is unique.

-It will only happen

-once in our lifetime.

-Stuffing, meat, crackling.

-It's great here.

-Now for some beer!

-It's inspection day.

-In the temporary site...

-..the crew are preparing

-to go to sea with the inspector.

-Check the lifejackets...

-..especially what's on which side.

-The inspector, Colin Williams, is

-the RNLI Western Division Manager.

-I'd like Mali, Caryl and Lisa

-to undertake the anchoring drill.

-There's a lot of pressure

-on the crew.

-It's an opportunity

-to prove to Colin...

-..that all the training

-with the new boat has paid off.

-Yes.

-But Lisa has been away

-at sea since September.

-She has to familiarize

-herself with a few things.

-For the anchor chain, pull this.

-This goes out.

-Is it easier to lift?

-Is it easier to lift?

-

-Yes.

-Colin assesses the crew

-on many aspects of the boat...

-..including the SIMS

-computer system.

-They expect a high standard.

-There's no second best.

-It must be spot on.

-There's no reason for it

-to be anything but that.

-They just make sure

-we do the job properly.

-Caryl, Lisa and Mali's first

-task is to drop anchor.

-RNLI lifeboats

-use Delta anchors now...

-..which are different

-from the traditional anchors.

-Because of their shape...

-..they're better at anchoring

-on rocks and sand on the seabed.

-Anchors aweigh.

-Go!

-You can free yourself now.

-Go up to the first mark.

-Colin has worked as an RNLI

-inspector for almost thirty years.

-He's busy learning Welsh.

-Put some tension on it.

-Hold it for a while.

-Is it holding?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-Well done.

-There's no time to relax.

-Colin gives Lewis

-and Robat the next task.

-They have to search

-the coast in the Y Boat.

-Lewis!

-I'll open the door.

-Just hold it there.

-I've asked them to go to investigate

-for a casualty over there.

-The Y Boat allows the crew

-to get closer to the shore...

-..where the lifeboat can't reach.

-They're coming back.

-But when the crew

-and Y Boat return...

-..an emergency awaits them.

-ALARM

-What?

-Fire? OK.

-Have you phoned the coastguard?

-There's a fire in the computer room.

-As well as fire extinguishers,

-the lifeboat has a pump, if needed.

-It pumps water

-directly from the sea.

-But Caryl has trouble

-starting the engine.

-Pull.

-This is my last go.

-After all the effort and

-perspiration, Alan finally succeeds.

-ENGINE STARTS

-Yes!

-You almost did it, Caryl.

-Caryl wants another go. Now it's

-warmed up, she wants another go.

-ENGINE STARTS

-APPLAUSE

-Success for Caryl and the crew,

-as the inspection ends.

-We've got to bear in mind that

-these individuals on the crew...

-..are all volunteers.

-They're not here every day.

-So therefore, given that,

-their skill levels are fantastic.

-Colin is very pleased.

-But what about the coxswain?

-It was fantastic this evening,

-with the three women.

-They work well together.

-I won't be able to sleep tonight.

-I don't sleep well

-after every inspection.

-The day I think it'll be easy

-is the day I give it up.

-You don't do that.

-That's when you'll be caught out.

-Tell Alan I'm going

-to open up for a bit.

-Oh, yes!

-So it was a successful evening.

-But some of the crew

-had to pay the price.

-I've got a blood blister.

-And Lisa. Show your hand.

-It went OK. We can improve

-on a lot of things.

-But I think everyone's happy.

-Hopefully!

-Everyone is content.

-There's a chance to relax

-on the way back to Porthdinllaen.

-It's the best feeling in the world.

-Wow!

-The RNLI holds more than

-470 inspections annually...

-..to ensure that lifeboat crews

-like the one in Porthdinllaen...

-..are always ready

-to keep the seas safe.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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