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BOATING
Q&A w th A een Jones the rst e a e to re e e an RNLI e a o a antr .
ALL AT SEA NOVEMBER 2020
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would normally do, and this meant we had to take the long way going around the East Nash Buoy. We could see the Gower Pride as we were heading towards the buoy - he was drifting close to the bank - and we made best speed to his position. As we rounded the buoy the conditions were very rough, which would make a tow to Porthcawl difficult and we decided to ask for assistance from our flank station at Mumbles. While this was put into action we carried on to the Gower Pride’s precarious position. It was rolling quite badly and it was difficult to be able to put a crew member on board. We managed to throw a tow line and hoped the skipper would be able to attach it in such awful conditions. He scrambled up to his bow and got some turns around his cleat and we started towing him away from the sandbank, but unfortunately the tow parted. We went back and this time I decided that we really needed a crew member on board, so with some difficult maneuvering and a bump on the head to one of my crew from a dan buoy (he was fine), we managed to get our lifeboat crew member, Simon, on the boat to reattach the tow. With some difficulty Simon managed to clamber his way to the bow and get a tow on successfully, and we slowly towed the boat safely away from the bank. Now Simon was on board he was also able to assess the condition of the injured crew of the Gower Pride and provide casualty care. We carried on towing the Gower Pride back to Porthcawl until The Mumbles lifeboat was able to take over and get the boat back to Porthcawl before the tide left the harbour.
hat o o o e a o t e n n o e w th the RNLI?
I love the camaraderie and the banter. I have been involved now a fair few years and most of the crew were children hanging around the station when I first started, so that is weird! I love the buzz of a shout, but most of all I love the fact that I am doing something for my local community. I have been part of the lifeboat family all of my adult life and most of my childhood, and I cannot think of a better place to be.
Image: Steve Jones
hat are the ost o on a o ts o re e e
Aileen Jones awarded the Bronze medal for gallantry for a rescue she took part in on 24 August 2004. Image: RNLI/Derek King
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Obviously, the shout I had my medal for was quite a rough day but with the adrenalin running I had to manage the situation. I generally used to get quite scared when the seas were large and there were high winds. In 1994 the station moved from a D class to an Atlantic 21 with no water ballast, and when that went over a large wave with the wind on the bow it would flutter and I was doubtful on occasions whether it would come back down the right way or go bow over stern. They were the early days of the Atlantic inshore lifeboats and all of us crew were cutting our teeth on them and we had a lot to learn. These days, with the newer boats, we have water ballast and the boat does not fly off the waves as much, thank goodness.
rst ot nto oat n .
My parents have always had some kind of sailing boat and my mum sailed while pregnant with me. They mostly had sailing dinghies and then in later life progressed to larger yachts and powerboats. I did a bit of dinghy sailing and generally hung around the harbour messing around with my dad’s and Sea Cadets’ boats.
here are o stat one an wh o rst o n the RNLI?
I am stationed at Porthcawl on the South Wales coast. I first joined because of my brother-in-law, as he was on the crew and there was absolutely nothing else I wanted to do more. I loved the buzz of a shout and could not wait to join. It took longer than expected but it worked out for the best in the end joining after having my children.
As we as the e a o were one o the RNLI’s rst e a e he s one o the rst e a e a n h n a thor t es an the rst e a e rew e er at orth aw e oat tat on. hat wo o sa to other wo en th nk n o o n n the RNLI?
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o were the rst wo an n ears an the rst e a e rew e er to re e e an e a. an o te s a o t the res e o were n o e w th
It was a windy force 8 summer morning in August 2004 when I heard on my VHF radio from the skipper of the Gower Pride that he had suffered engine failure. He was drifting towards the Nash Sandbank and he also had an injured crew member on board. I was the first helm at the station and immediately got changed while waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive. We launched and headed towards the sandbank, realising quite quickly that the conditions were not favourable for us to cross the bank as we
Our call-outs are varied from people getting cut off by the tide at the bottom of the cliffs at Southerndown, surfers getting caught in a rip current, broken down vessels, missing persons, jet skis, windsurfers and kitesurfers to open water swimmers and animal rescues.
Aileen was one of the RNLI’S first female helms. Image: Alex MacNaughton
I would say that hopefully circumstances are much better for women these days, not just in the RNLI, but generally. If your goal is to become a member of a lifeboat crew then go for it; I am sure the crew will welcome you with open arms. You will have the occasional comment, usually from a member of the public, such as “wow you drive that tractor” or “wow you drive the lifeboat” to which I just smile and say “yes I do”. From my fellow crew, I have only had encouragement, friendship and respect.
