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Displaying items by tag: Hell on High Seas

It's their final day on the open water, the Hell on High Seas team are on their way to London after skirting the Irish coast for the past 48 hours under former Irish Green Dragon Skipper Ian Walker, the current Volvo Ocean Race winner.The celebrity crew taking part in the BT Sport Relief Challenge: Hell on High Seas were forced to moor up for the night on Wedensday after the coastguard issued a Gale Force 10 Warning.

The yacht, crewed by The One Show’s Alex Jones, TV presenter Angellica Bell, Comedian Hal Cruttenden, Actress Doon Mackichan, and TV presenters Ore Oduba and Suzi Perry, was initially hoping to reach Southampton by the end of the day. However with members of the crew suffering extreme sea-sickness and the boat almost capsizing due to the towering waves, the team skipper Ian Walker took the decision to moor up for the night in Plymouth to let the storm pass.

In spite of the appalling conditions, the crew were overwhelmed when they heard they have raised a staggering £354,810 so far. This news means that they are more determined than ever to finish the challenge and make it across the finish line in London on Friday 11th March.
The incredible feat, which is sponsored by BT – a long-term supporter of Sport Relief challenges since 2009 – kicked off in Belfast on Monday 7th March after a weekend of intense training. The team are living, sleeping and working on the Volvo Ocean 65 - a carbon-fibre speed machine that has been optimized for maximum performance.
The money raised by the challenge will help transform the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people both at home in the UK and across some of the world’s poorest communities.

Published in Ocean Race

Every Year Ireland's Search & Rescue Services deliver emergency life saving work on our seas, lakes and rivers.

Ireland's Water Safety Agencies work hard to provide us with the information we need to keep safe, while enjoying all manner of water based activities.

There's no better fun than getting out on the water but being afloat is a responsibility we all need to take seriously.

These pages detail the work of the rescue agencies. We also aim to promote safety standards among pleasure boaters, and by doing so, prevent, as far as possible, the loss of life at sea and on inland waters. If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]

Think Before You Sink - Wear a Lifejacket

Accidents can happen fast on water and there may not be time to reach for a lifejacket in an emergency therefore don't just carry a lifejacket - wear it; if it's not on you, it can't save your life.

Irish Water Safety's Safe Boating Alert:

Check condition of boat and equipment, hull, engine, fuel, tools, torch.

Check the weather forecast for the area.

Check locally concerning dangerous currents and strong tides.

Do not drink alcohol while setting out or during your trip.

Carry an alternative means of propulsion e.g. sails and oars or motor and oars.

Carry a first aid kit on board and distress signals (at least two parachute distress rockets, two red hand flares).

Carry a fire extinguisher, a hand bailer or bucket with lanyard and an anchor with rope attached.

Carry marine radio or some means of communication with shore.

Do not overload the boat - this will make it unstable.

Do not set out unless accompanied by an experienced person.

Leave details of your planned trip with someone ashore - including departure and arrival times, description of boat, names of persons on board, etc.

Wear a Lifejacket at all times.

Keep an eye on the weather - seek shelter in good time.

In Marine Emergencies, call 999 or 112 and ask for Marine Rescue.

Lifejackets Checklist

Ensure Cartridges have not been punctured and are secured firmly.

Ensure all zips, buckles, fasteners and webbing straps are functioning correctly and adjusted to fit the user.

Check that fitted lights are operating correctly.

Ensure that Automatic Inflation devices are fully serviced and in date.

Check that the valve or lifejacket is not leaking.