Froward Point NCI participated in a rescue exercise on the morning of Sunday 4th June. Organised in conjunction with Dart Sailability and Dart RNLI, the exercise was intended to explore the potential problems of an emergency involving people with disabilities at sea. The Sailability vessel, Farries Flyer, simulated a man overboard in the mouth of the Dart near Castle Ledge, using a “Dead Fred” dummy, and after moving about 80 yards provided another “man” overboard. Simultaneously an engine failure was simulated. Thanks to the tides and a wind of up to force 5, the two “men” overboard ended up drifting west to within a few yards of each other whereas the Farries Flyer drifted considerably to the east. After being conned to the “men overboard” by Froward Point NCI watchkeepers, Alan Barrett and Steve Westcott, the lifeboat recovered the casualties and returned to take the Farries Flyer in tow. All agreed it was a very useful exercise where many lessons have been learned.
