With courage, nothing is impossible. |
- Sir William Hillary, Founder of the RNLI
Seamanship
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I am a Commercially Endorsed skipper of power driven vessels (up to 15 m) to the level of RYA Advanced Powerboat Handler, with extensive boating experience on both RIBs and jet drive boats. I am hence competent as a crew member on a range of craft, and can assist as a coxswain as necessary. I am well experienced in outboard engine maintenance and maintain my skills in this as the Boating Officer for my local SCUBA diving club.
I am also an experienced powerboating instructor holding the RYA Powerboating Instructor and BSAC Boat Handling Instructor qualifications with > 5 years of experience, and I enjoy teaching others. I am also experienced in navigation and passage planning. In addition to teaching boat handling, I regularly coach others in ropework, chartwork and navigation, and interpreting weather systems. I hold numerous boating qualifications including RYA VHF DSC Marine Radio Operator, RYA Sea Survival, RYA First Aid at Sea, and BSAC Diver Coxswain. As a volunteer crew member for the RNLI I have received some of the best at-sea training that is available. In addition to typical boating maneovures, I have been taught specific rescue techniques such as veering down and towing casualty vessels. I have over 2,000 hours logged at sea on a range of vessels in various capacities, outlined below: |
Managing the recovery of the dive RHIB at Dale, Pembrokeshire.
Working as crew and marine guide.
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- Vessel: “JAFFA”, Dive RHIB, 5.5 m Humber
Engine: Petrol, 115 hp 2-stroke (previously 90hp 4-stroke)
Drive: Steering console, propeller driven
Hours: 450+ as helm
Operational areas: Bristol Channel, Gower Coast, Swansea Bay, Swansea Marina, Milford Haven Waterway Pembrokeshire Coast including tidal narrows (Ramsey Sound and Jack Sound), Cornwall (Falmouth and Porthkerris)
Details: Crew 2010-2012, helm since 2012, diver coxswain since 2013. Extensive boat handling experience on this RHIB, principally on diving trips along the Gower coastline, West Wales and the UK South Coast. Additional leisure journeys along the Gower coastline. Typical operating range 30-40 mile round trips, operating within 20 miles of nearest safe haven. Operational from dawn ‘til dusk. Passages both with and without dive equipment on board. Max 9 persons on board (POB). Slow boat handling manoeuvres as well as open sea boating experience. Experienced in rough weather handling (max force 6-7, typically force 3-4) including through challenging tidal streams (including wind over tide). Experienced in navigating in low visibility, including fog. Experienced in diving operations including shotline deployment and recovery, diver drop off and recovery, wreck finding using echosounder etc. Have taught >10 new boat handlers on various boat handling instructor courses using this vessel. - Vessel: “Sea Serpent”, Coded RHIB, 10.5 m Picton Cobra
Engine: Diesel, 315 hp, Hamilton jet drive
Drive: Steering console, water jet driven
Hours: 1200+ (400 as helm, 800 as crew)
Operational areas: Gower Coastline, Swansea Bay, Swansea Marina
Details: Commercial vessel (wildlife tour boat) typically operating between Oxwich Bay and Worm’s Head, with additional trips also from Swansea Bay to Worm’s head. Typical operating range 25 – 50 miles depending on passage. Operational from dawn ‘til dusk. Seasonal work from early April until late October. Two and a half full seasons, plus additional part-time work. Five trips daily, operating for 10-12hrs per day, 7 days per week. Passages ranging from singlehanded operation to up to 14 POB. Extensive experience in anchoring at sea, beach landings, hauling lobster pots (as part of the trip), navigating challenging tidal races around headlands including wind over tide. Singlehandedly helming the vessel in and out of busy waterway (Swansea Marina) including multiple lock-ins, mooring and berthing alongside other craft. Extensive slow water manoeuvre experience as well as open sea boating. Extensive experience in locating (spotting from a distance) and operating near wildlife including seals, common dolphins, harbour porpoise and various seabird species. Wildlife recording for the Seawatch Foundation. Also experienced with media personnel including BBC film crew and Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. - Vessel: “Calypso”, Coded RHIB, 6 m Humber
Engine: Petrol, 90 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Steering console, propeller driven
Hours: 140+ as helm
Operational areas: Isles of Scilly, Swansea Bay, Swansea Marina, Pembrokeshire, Dale, Milford Haven
Details: Research operations in Swansea Bay and the Gower coastline including the deployment of underwater camera systems, operation of drones, wildlife monitoring (seal haulouts and seabird identification) and water quality assessments and marine sampling techniques (such as plankton netting). Additionally, crew and helming the vessel for diving operations around Swansea Bay, the Gower coastline and the Isles of Scilly. Typical operating range 10 miles. Day time operations only. Passages both with and without dive equipment on board. Max 7 POB. Slow boat handling manoeuvres as well as open sea boating experience. Very well versed in shallow water handling and operation around local marine wildlife (seals and seagrass particularly). Additionally, helm for seagrass restoration project involving line deployments, heavy loads, mooring and berthing, overnight mooring, loading in shallow water with swell and waves. - Vessel: “Cougar”, Coded RHIB, 6 m Ribcraft
Engine: Petrol, 130 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Steering console, propeller driven
Hours: <15 as helm
Operational areas: Swansea Bay, Swansea Marina
Details: Helming vessel as part of Powerboat Level 2 and Advanced Powerboat courses. Experience includes slow water handling, anchoring, search patterns, high speed manoeuvres. Operational both night and day including night-time navigation. Max 5 POB. - Vessel: “Merlin”, RHIB, 5.5 m Humber
Engine: Petrol, 60 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Steering console, propeller driven
Hours: <15 as helm
Operational areas: Swansea Bay, Swansea Marina
Details: Helming vessel as part of Powerboat Level 2 and Advanced Powerboat courses. Experience includes slow water handling, anchoring, search patterns, high speed manoeuvres. Operational during daytime only. Max 5 POB. - Vessel: “RV Noctiluca”, Coded Research Catamaran, 15 m
Engine: Diesel, 1'000 hp
Drive: Bridge steering position, propeller driven
Hours: < 20 as student crew
Operational areas: Swansea Bay, Swansea Marina
Details: On board Swansea University's Research Vessel to conduct inshore sampling activities including beam trawling, otter trawling, grab sampling, water sampling, and plankton netting. Experience in deploying gear using hydraulic winch. - Vessel: “RV Mary Anning”, Coded Research Catamaran, 18 m
Engine: Diesel, 2'000 hp
Drive: Bridge steering position, propeller driven
Hours: < 50 as crew
Operational areas: Swansea Bay, Swansea Marina, Milford Haven, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
Details: On board the RV Mary Anning to conduct offshore marine mammal survey work. Experienced in mooring and berthing, and deploying gear over the stern. - Vessel: “Roy Barker IV”, 16.3 m Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB)
Engine: Diesel, 2,000 hp
Drive: Steering console, propeller driven
Hours: < 5 as helm, > 50 as crew
Operational areas: Bristol Channel, Gower Coast, Swansea Bay, Swansea Marina
Details: approx. 4-5 hours spent as helm for RNLI crew training purposes only, under the supervision of coxswain. Total hours aboard as crew: approx. 30 (including wider training time and hours on “shout”). Operational 24/7/365. Experienced in setting anchor, recovering casualties from the water, deployment of the Y-boat (small RIB deployed from the transom of the ALB), helicopter operations, towing casualty vessels, search patterns. Training as ALB crewman ongoing. - Vessel: “Mark Lott”, 3.5 m Inshore Lifeboat (ILB)
Engine: Petrol, 60 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Tiller, propeller driven
Hours: <10 as helm, >50 as crew.
Operational areas: Gower Coast, Swansea Bay, Swansea Marina
Details: approx. 10 hours spent as helm for RNLI crew training purposes only, under the supervision of qualified helm. Including high speed motoring and slow manoeuvres; the latter including picking up and dropping off casualties. Total hours aboard as crew: approx. 60 (including training time and hours on “shout”). Operational 24/7/365. Experienced in setting anchor, veering down, recovering casualties from the water, towing casualty vessels, search patterns and beach landings. Well versed in shallow water handling. Max 5 POB. Trained as ILB crewman. - Vessel: RNLI Boarding Boat, 4.9 m RHIB
Engine: Petrol, twin 30 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Tiller, propeller driven
Hours: <10 as helm
Operational areas: Swansea Bay
Details: <10 hours spent as helm for RNLI crew training and RNLI “shout” purposes. Time spent on helm including high speed motoring and slow manoeuvres; the latter including picking up and dropping off crew on to pier. Shallow water handling. Max 7 POB. - Vessel: Jetski 1 m
Engine: Yamaha Wave Runner, 1000cc
Drive: Handlebar, water jet driven
Hours: <10 as helm
Operational areas: Loughour Estuary, Gower Coast
Details: Leisure trips around the Gower coastline. Daytime operations in fleet of other personal watercraft. Operating within 10 miles from the nearest safe haven. Max 2 POB. - Vessel: “Selkie”, RHIB (Aluminium), 7 m
Engine: Diesel, 300 hp inboard
Drive: Steering console, water jet driven
Hours: <20 as crew only
Operational areas: The Wash, Loch Fleet
Details: Vessel operational for harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) captures in The Wash, Norfolk and Loch Fleet, Scotland. Aboard as crew during high speed manoeuvres in shallow water and abrupt, high speed beach landings. Working with nets in the water, and with seals on board (including whilst underway) or strung alongside the RHIB (not whilst underway). Further experience gained in mooring and berthing. Max 7 POB. - Vessel: “Numbknots”, RHIB, 6 m Humber
Engine: Petrol, twin 30 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Handlebar, jet driven
Hours: <20 as crew only
Operational areas: The Wash, Loch Fleet
Details: Vessel operational for harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) captures in The Wash, Norfolk and Loch Fleet, Scotland. Aboard as crew during high speed manoeuvres in shallow water and abrupt, high speed beach landings. Working with nets in the water, and with seals on board (including whilst underway) or strung alongside the RHIB (not whilst underway). Further experience gained in mooring and berthing. - Vessel: “Zodiac”, 4 m Zodiac
Engine: Petrol, 60 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Tiller, propeller
Hours: <20 as crew only
Operational areas: Bardsey Island (Llyn Peninsula) and Ramsey Island, St David's Bay (Pembrokeshire)
Details: Vessel operational for harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) captures in Ramsey Island and Bardsey Island. Aboard as crew during high speed manoeuvres in shallow water and abrupt, high speed beach landings. Working with nets in the water, and with seals on board (including whilst underway) or strung alongside the zodiac (not whilst underway). Further experience gained in mooring and berthing. - Vessel: “Cwmtawe Divers”, Dive RHIB, 6 m Humber
Engine: Petrol, 115 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Steering console, propeller
Hours: <10
Operational areas: Gower Coast, Swansea Bay
Details: Helm and coxswain for diving activities around the Gower coastline and Swansea Bay. Additional leisure journeys along the Gower coastline. Typical operating range 20 mile round trips. Daytime operations. Max 9 POB. Slow boat handling manoeuvres as well as open sea boating experience. Experienced in diving operations including shotline deployment and recovery, diver drop off and recovery, wreck finding using echosounder etc. - Vessel: “Sidmouth”, RNLI inshore lifeboat (retired from service), 4 m RIB
Engine: Petrol, 30 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Steering console, propeller
Hours: <10
Operational areas: Gower Coast, Swansea Bay
Details: Helm and coxswain for diving activities around the Gower coastline and Swansea Bay. Additional leisure journeys along the Gower coastline. Typical operating range 15 mile round trips. Daytime operations. Max 6 POB. Slow boat handling manoeuvres as well as open sea boating experience. Experienced in diving operations including shotline deployment and recovery, diver drop off and recovery, wreck finding using echosounder etc. - Vessel: “Loughour Divers”, Dive RHIB, 8.5 m Humber
Engine: Petrol, 250 hp, 4-stroke
Drive: Steering console, propeller
Hours: <10
Operational areas: Gower Coast, Swansea Bay
Details: Helm and coxswain for diving activities around the Gower coastline and Swansea Bay. Additional leisure journeys along the Gower coastline. Typical operating range 15 mile round trips. Daytime operations. Max 9 POB. Slow boat handling manoeuvres as well as open sea boating experience. Experienced in diving operations including shotline deployment and recovery, diver drop off and recovery, wreck finding using echosounder etc. - Vessel: “Zostera”, 2 m Zodiac
Engine: Petrol, 20 hp, 2-stroke
Drive: Tiller, propeller
Hours: <10 as helm
Operational areas: Dale, Pembrokeshire
Details: Vessel operational for shuttling heavy equipment back and forth in Dale bay for seagrass restoration project. Experienced in loading in swell and waves, cox'ing in high winds, mooring and berthing, and overnight mooring. - Vessel: “Zostera2”, 4 m RIB
Engine: Petrol, 30 hp, 4-stroke
Drive: Console, propeller
Hours: >10 as helm
Operational areas: Dale, Pembrokeshire
Details: Vessel operational for shuttling heavy equipment back and forth and providing surface monitoring for snorkelling and diving activities. Mooring and berthing, and overnight mooring. - Vessel: “RV Gwenhidw”, 7 x 2.5 m Aluminium Landing Craft
Engine: Petrol, twin 70 hp, 4-stroke
Drive: Console, propeller
Hours: > 50 as Skipper
Operational areas: Pembrokeshire, Llyn Peninsula, Isle of Wight, and Anglesey.
Details: Skipper of vessel for commercial research operations including beach landings, HSE Diving Operations (diver deployment and recovery via ladder) and deployment of scientific research equipment: Baited Underwater Remote Video Systems (BRUVS), Biosonics Active Acoustic Sonar, underwater cameras, sediment trap deployments. 20 nmi passages with multiple launch sites and safe havens used, experience in fog and in busy shipping channels, mooring and berthing, and overnight mooring.
