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Irish
Coast Guard Historic |
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Setting the Scene |
HOW THE BREECHES BUOY RESCUE SYSTEM WORKS. The rescue team under the control
of a station officer was about 20 strong, but could call on others
if and when necessary. They would assemble with the equipment as close
to the casualty as possible to set up the equipment. This could be
from a beach or from a hill or rocks. From now on I shall be using
the terms used at sea or from the 1800s which have not changed and
are still in use today, with the modern day equivalent when necessary. Having
got as close to the casualty (ship in distress) as possible the Rocket
machine (rocket launcher) was lined up and trajectory established.
The rocket was placed in the machine, box of rocket line placed in
the correct position and attached to the rocket stick or bridle whichever
type rocket was used. The Whip & Block (endless line threaded
through the pulley) was attached to the other end of the rocket line,
and the Jackstay (main hawser) was laid out ready. At the same time
an anchorage was being prepared to enable the jackstay to be tensioned,
and the Triangle (tripod) to support the jackstay was being erected
and lined up with the anchorage and the ship. A Snatch block (single
pulley with a hinged gate) was attached to the top of the triangle
and the jackstay placed over the pulley and the gate closed securing
the jackstay. The jackstay was Reeved (threaded)
through the Traveller block (a pulley block with two pulley’s
end to end with revolving guides each end) and secured to the triangle
as was the traveller block. When the anchorage was secure the Luff
tackle (a set of double pulley blocks and rope) was hooked to the
anchor and laid out on the ground in line with the centre of the triangle,
the equipment was now ready for use. On a given signal the rocket
was fired carrying the rocket line with it to the ship. On reaching
the ship the crew would pull in the rocket line and with it the Whip
& Block. When the Whip & Block was safely recovered it would
be secured as far up the mast as possible, on a given signal to the
shore the Jackstay would be hauled out from the shore to the ship
using the whip. The jackstay would then be secured to the mast about
18 inches (50 centimetres) above the whip block and a signal sent
when this had been achieved. In the situation where the vessel has
been dismasted the whip block and jackstay
would have to be fixed to the highest point on the ship. When the
signal has been received by the shore party the Breeches Buoy (circular
lifebuoy with a pair of breeches (trousers) sewn in) and whip is attached
to the traveller block. The Jackstay is tensioned as much as possible
using the Luff tackle. When as much tension
has been achieved the Breeches buoy is hauled out to the ship on the
jackstay using the whip. On reaching the ship a sailor gets into the
breeches buoy and is hauled along the jackstay towards the shore,
on reaching the shore the sailor gets out and the exercise is repeated
until all are ashore and the rescue completed. The jackstay is retrieved
using the Hawser cutter (block with cutters attached), the whip is
untied and pulled through the block leaving only one Fathom (6 feet)
of jackstay and a single pulley on board. The equipment would then
be brought back to the Rocket House (building in which the equipment
is stored) dried, repaired if necessary, and repacked ready for immediate
use. All the equipment required to affect a rescue was carried on
either a Two Wheeled Cart drawn by a single horse or Four Wheeled
Wagon drawn by either two or three horses. Carts and wagons
were also stored in the rocket house |