Management Board members Roy Alder, Marian Holmes and Paul Stubbs took part in a Day Sail on Sea Essay, Civil Service Sailing Association Channel Sailing Division's Yacht, in August
Having undertaken a quick safety induction, issued with life vests and safety harness by our hosts for the day, Rob Stevens (Vice Commodore CSSA) and Colin Smith (CSD Day Sail Manager), we all set sail from Hamble out into the Solent.
In the morning the crew sailed down the coast to Portsmouth for a visit to CSSA's Portsmouth Offshore Group (POG) moorings and lunch with members in their clubhouse. After lunch we headed back out into the Solent and made our way towards the Isle of Wight.
What happened next is something that would normally appear on a TV programme or a News item! While sailing towards what we thought was our next destination a message was received over the UHF radio from HM Coastguard that their Search & Rescue Helicopter would be undertaking a "hi-line" transfer from Sea Essay. It was at this point that we were informed that this exercise had been prearranged with HM Coastguard.
The crew were briefed on their tasks and the yacht was made ready. We had to steer into the wind and keep an area clear on the port side with unobstructed access. The sails had to be trimmed and reefed thus reducing our speed. The helicopter came and hovered on the port side to our stern. The pilot was in radio communication with Colin Smith, whilst Rob Stevens took the helm. A hi-line was lowered and it was Roy's task to haul in this rope and place it into a bucket on the deck. One end of the hi-line had a weight attached to it whilst the other was attached to the helicopter winch hook.
Then the helicopter winch man exited and slowly began his descent. At the same time Roy and I had to maintain the tension on the line. As the winchman was lowered we kept pulling in the line until he landed safely on the yacht, whereupon he released himself from the winch hook.
After some introductions Marian handed over the top secret package, who else in CSSC could be trusted with a box containing a bottle of Champagne! The winchman secured the package to his harness and we pulled in the winch with the hi-line; He secured himself to it and was then winched off and up back into the helicopter. After he was safely on board the helicopter the hi-line was recovered back into the helicopter. The helicopter pilot radioed his thanks and confirmed that the hi-line exercise was completed.
All agreed that it was a tremendous experience and commented upon how such a difficult manoeuvre looked so straightforward. It is only through such exercises and practises with willing yachts that these brave individuals can maintain the skills necessary to ensure that they are ready for any emergency.
Paul Stubbs
CSSC Management Board Member
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