stan_deezy
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2003
- Messages
- 1,539
Scene: a West of Scotland beach in November. A Force Six, occ Seven Easterly wind is blowing and the sea is moderate occ rough.<br />We get a call saying that two windsurfers are in difficulties (hmmm, wonder why?)<br /><br />We attend the scene and find that one windsurfer has managed to scramble to rocks and we set up some equipment and rescue him but we can't see his buddy anywhere. We task the local SAR helo to launch and assist in the search. Within about twenty minutes the helo finds the windsurfer over ten miles out and clinging to his board suffering from hypothermia. They winch him aboard and fly him direct to the local hospital where he makes a full recovery but...........<br /><br />......two weeks later a bill arrives at the helo squadron for the cost of replacing his windsurfer board which they had left drifting at sea 
(approx £700 or US$1,260)!!!!<br /><br />The commanding officer of the squadron then types out a counter-bill for the cost of the rescue: £11,800 or US$21,240 (including a small discount because they were already airborne!)<br /><br />needless to say he dropped the claim and gave a donation to a nominated charity <br /><br /><br />Scene Two: Isle of Arran, Scotland.<br />I am tasked to train some part-time Coastguards in using the breeches bouy equipment. This involves using a 41mm rocket to fire a floating line to the "ship" that we are assisting. In the training we go to a field and decide to use some trees as the "ship" so that I can demonstrate the best way to avoid problems with rigging etc.<br /><br />Everything goes great, safety is priority number one and all the guys are keen and eager to learn. I show them how to load the 41mm rocket launcher and the safety precautions to take and then fire the first rocket (approx 12-14" long and around 8lbs in weight) over the treetops......then we heard a very loud clatter.<br />One of the guys goes running off to check and discovers that there is a small house behind the trees and I've just shot the line onto the roof! The two occupants are looking up at the sky wondering if aliens are landing <br />You've never seen a Coastguard team load gear up and drive off so quick in all your lives
(approx £700 or US$1,260)!!!!<br /><br />The commanding officer of the squadron then types out a counter-bill for the cost of the rescue: £11,800 or US$21,240 (including a small discount because they were already airborne!)<br /><br />needless to say he dropped the claim and gave a donation to a nominated charity <br /><br /><br />Scene Two: Isle of Arran, Scotland.<br />I am tasked to train some part-time Coastguards in using the breeches bouy equipment. This involves using a 41mm rocket to fire a floating line to the "ship" that we are assisting. In the training we go to a field and decide to use some trees as the "ship" so that I can demonstrate the best way to avoid problems with rigging etc.<br /><br />Everything goes great, safety is priority number one and all the guys are keen and eager to learn. I show them how to load the 41mm rocket launcher and the safety precautions to take and then fire the first rocket (approx 12-14" long and around 8lbs in weight) over the treetops......then we heard a very loud clatter.<br />One of the guys goes running off to check and discovers that there is a small house behind the trees and I've just shot the line onto the roof! The two occupants are looking up at the sky wondering if aliens are landing <br />You've never seen a Coastguard team load gear up and drive off so quick in all your lives 
