Well, the Sennen relief lifeboat did have to go out, details at
www.sennen-cove.com/recent.htm . Terry George (the Coxswain) did get
interviewed for the BBC news, and they showed some rough seas at the
lighthouse. Shame it was Longships, with Land's End clear in the
background.

The 5-6 metre swell at the time was big enough, it was not possible to
get the lifeboat around Land's End & back to Sennen, but the swell is
still forecast to be at least twice that size tomorrow morning. The
good advance warning means Newlyn Harbour is full with fishing boats,
and there are already boats sheltering in Mount's Bay. The harbour
walls in Mousehole are shut to cars, virtually every boat now out of
Penzance harbour etc.

I always find it a bit strange that there are always warnings for
tidal surges, river flooding, gales, but rarely for a large sea, which
is what causes the greatest amount of damage down here. So, on those
occasions when there is a very large sea, but no gales (not true this
time) there is never a warning. There have been a number of occasions
in recent years when there has been significant damage, but no
warning, for exactly this reason. (The person who bought a property
off me in Mousehole had her car written off after it was washed into
the sea, on exactly one of these occasions. 'Threshold values for a
coastal location had not been met' - according to the MetO. I'd like
to know what the inland theshold values for a large sea are.)

The advance publicity this time means there are a number of people
heading down the A30 with surfboards on the car roof, hoping to catch
there biggest wave so far.

I'll stop waffling on now, otherwise I might mention scattered showers

Graham
Penzance

Of course - why not come & see Cornwall in winter www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/

"Graham Easterling" wrote in message
...
Well, the Sennen relief lifeboat did have to go out, details at
www.sennen-cove.com/recent.htm . Terry George (the Coxswain) did get
interviewed for the BBC news, and they showed some rough seas at the
lighthouse. Shame it was Longships, with Land's End clear in the
background.

The 5-6 metre swell at the time was big enough, it was not possible to
get the lifeboat around Land's End & back to Sennen, but the swell is
still forecast to be at least twice that size tomorrow morning. The
good advance warning means Newlyn Harbour is full with fishing boats,
and there are already boats sheltering in Mount's Bay. The harbour
walls in Mousehole are shut to cars, virtually every boat now out of
Penzance harbour etc.


Graham

Just a correction on a point of detail above.
The reason the Lifeboat didnt return to its boathouse at Sennen Cove was due
to conditions actually across the slipway at Sennen, rather than the open
water swell.
We hoped there may have been an opportunity to rehouse this morning at low
water, but once again conditions didnt allow the tricky transition from sea
to slipway.
Over the years this happens occasionally, although its been a while since
our Lifeboat spent more than a day in Newlyn.

John Chappell
Lifeboat Operations Manager
Sennen Cove

Graham

Just a correction on a point of detail above.
The reason the Lifeboat didnt return to its boathouse at Sennen Cove was due
to conditions actually across the slipway at Sennen, rather than the open
water swell.
We hoped there may have been an opportunity to rehouse this morning at low
water, but once again conditions didnt allow the tricky transition from sea
to slipway.
Over the years this happens occasionally, although its been a while since
our Lifeboat spent more than a day in Newlyn.

John Chappell
Lifeboat Operations Manager
Sennen Cove

Thanks for that.

It amazes me sometimes how the lifeboat gets launched when Cowloe is a
mass of foam. It must be a matter of very good timing.

All the best

Graham

Penzance Weather: www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/weather.html

Graham/John

I recently (a few weeks ago) got held up on the M25, round by Heathrow
by an abnormal load.

It was the Sennen Lifeboat, heading North on a Low Loader. Very
impressive sight and in the end, it made a pleasant change to the normal
reason for a hold up!!

Where was it heading and why?

Cheers

Neil

John Chappell wrote:
"Graham Easterling" wrote in message
...
Well, the Sennen relief lifeboat did have to go out, details at
www.sennen-cove.com/recent.htm . Terry George (the Coxswain) did get
interviewed for the BBC news, and they showed some rough seas at the
lighthouse. Shame it was Longships, with Land's End clear in the
background.

The 5-6 metre swell at the time was big enough, it was not possible to
get the lifeboat around Land's End & back to Sennen, but the swell is
still forecast to be at least twice that size tomorrow morning. The
good advance warning means Newlyn Harbour is full with fishing boats,
and there are already boats sheltering in Mount's Bay. The harbour
walls in Mousehole are shut to cars, virtually every boat now out of
Penzance harbour etc.


Graham

Just a correction on a point of detail above.
The reason the Lifeboat didnt return to its boathouse at Sennen Cove was due
to conditions actually across the slipway at Sennen, rather than the open
water swell.
We hoped there may have been an opportunity to rehouse this morning at low
water, but once again conditions didnt allow the tricky transition from sea
to slipway.
Over the years this happens occasionally, although its been a while since
our Lifeboat spent more than a day in Newlyn.

John Chappell
Lifeboat Operations Manager
Sennen Cove

Hi Neil,

Well spotted - guess you're thinking we got early warning of this heavy
weather !

That was/is our Station boat the 'Norman Salvesen' going away for refit on
the East Coast and expected back at Sennen Cove in January.
We currently have the relief lifeboat 'Phil Mead' on station - albeit in
Newlyn at present.

John


"Neil" wrote in message
...
Graham/John

I recently (a few weeks ago) got held up on the M25, round by Heathrow by
an abnormal load.

It was the Sennen Lifeboat, heading North on a Low Loader. Very impressive
sight and in the end, it made a pleasant change to the normal reason for a
hold up!!

Where was it heading and why?

Cheers

Neil

Wow John, that would have been some early warning!!!

Yes, that was her name, the Norman Salvesen.

I tried to get a picture but it was all a bit too dodgy and I decided
that discretion was the better part of valour!!!

Would have made a good pic on the wall in the LB Station though!. . . .

I'm surprised they low-loaded it all the way from Sennen though -
Wouldn't it be more cost effective to simply sail her, even though it's
a long way.

Cheers

Neil

John Chappell wrote:
Hi Neil,

Well spotted - guess you're thinking we got early warning of this heavy
weather !

That was/is our Station boat the 'Norman Salvesen' going away for refit on
the East Coast and expected back at Sennen Cove in January.
We currently have the relief lifeboat 'Phil Mead' on station - albeit in
Newlyn at present.

John


"Neil" wrote in message
...
Graham/John

I recently (a few weeks ago) got held up on the M25, round by Heathrow by
an abnormal load.

It was the Sennen Lifeboat, heading North on a Low Loader. Very impressive
sight and in the end, it made a pleasant change to the normal reason for a
hold up!!

Where was it heading and why?

Cheers

Neil