As always, these evolutions start with the continuous optimism of Senior Planner Dave Hayes blocking a week of all three ships plans to attempt to make best endeavours for us to get No. 19 Lightvessel on station. Despite his optimism, the weather gods decided this was not to be. Even as we settle in the British summer time and close on our summer solstice, the winds and swells quickly change, blowing away any notice of a simple tow all the way round to Land's End.
While problem solving the repeated issues of weather windows coming and going at short notice—due to the frequent weather systems appearing out of nowhere—I devised my plan of ‘Forward Deploying’ the lightvessel to Falmouth. This meant that it would only be a stone's throw away from station.
On presenting my proposal to Gavin Johnson (Technical Superintendent) and Ross Chadwick (Senior Marine Superintendent), I was met with a quizzical look that could only mean ‘Are you sure?!’, shortly followed after a few moments' contemplations by “Sounds Good, get it done” by Ross. After a few follow up questions regarding the logistics (“would we have enough fuel to get there?”), the plan grew its legs and allowed me to move swiftly on to the Planning team. Senior Planner Dave Hayes and I sat down to work out the broad strokes, namely planning where the ships should be and what was required of them. THV Galatea was planned to cover THV Alert's ‘area’ and THV Patricia planned to meet us in Falmouth to help support us as required. This was also if the weather allowed for us to tow straight to station for the exchange with LV22 which has done her time on station and was due some R&R.
The finer details of the plan were left to me; I gathered all my information and local knowledge as a local to Falmouth and Carrick Roads. I came with numerous plans and business cases for each option. The first problem was passage planning, the vessel didn't carry the charts as she had never been that far west, in fear of sea monsters. Once we finally received them and the 340 miles we needed to cover, I could see the crew eyes widen as they envisioned horrific scenes from The Perfect Storm; THV Alert is well known for being the fastest of the three vessels but not the comfiest.
Behind the scenes involves the practicalities of paperwork. This operation required a vast amount of planning and paperwork with various stakeholders. We needed clearance from Harwich Harbour to leave with the lightvessel in tow, clearance for the tow into Falmouth, berths for the vessel, risk assessments for every stage of the towing operation. The five days before departure was spent organising and satisfying everyone involved that this could be done safely and efficiently. As the days got closer, the crew were on LV19 regularly doing the final checks and preparations.
A few days before with the assistance of THV Patricia's workboat and THV Alert, we moved the lightvessel from its resting place on Stream Mooring No.3. This lightvessel has been part of the scenery for a little while now and had some separation anxiety from the buoy. After a little coaxing, we managed to move it to Stream Mooring No.2, ready to start the tow in two days. THV Patricia had to depart two days ahead of us; they say it was for operational reasons, but I know it is because THV Alert is much faster, even while towing!
On Monday, the weather was lovely. We connected up alongside and towed LV19 side by side out of the harbour without fuss. Soon we were out the harbour and able to reconfigure the tow astern. The crew had all been briefed, so they swiftly and efficiently got everything rigged. The remark was ‘Uneventful’; as a Commander this is music to my ears, as long as that is the end of the sentence.
The weather was fair at the start of the voyage; the first sunset started to fall as we continued to steam round just past the White Cliffs of Dover. In the morning, we were greeted with calm winds and a glassy sea. We had in fact been going quicker than anticipated so even slowed down for a few hours to ensure we arrived at the planned time. By the next sunset we were well into Devon, the sea was a brilliant blue and the sunset a dark orange loom. We were greeted with a number of common dolphins playing around the bow wave and tow. Even after the sunset we could see the dolphins playing around the vessel. Just as the sunset came, the winds picked up greater than forecast, with a swell on the beam. THV Alert rolled into the night. As morning came, we approached Falmouth Bay, with THV Patricia awaiting her pilot into Falmouth. She had planned to go alongside in Falmouth before us but kindly lent us two seafarers to assist our operations.
The tow was shortened up as we approached the pilotage area. Just over a mile off the tow was reconfigured back alongside; again, there was some hesitation from the lightvessel, not sure if she wanted to be let go from the astern tow. Soon after some gentle persuasion we were to entered side by side, as we slowly made our way in past St Anthony Lighthouse. This is my home waters of Carrick Roads, and my first time bringing a vessel into my home waters in my four years as Commander. It was nice to pass the reassuring areas of my past; the waters where I learnt to sail dinghies, where I used to teach sailing from, even passing the important landmarks of where I used to walk the dog after school.
After making my way up the channel past the buoys—that I frequently used as race marks in my younger days—we approached the Crossroads buoy. Falmouth Harbour Pilot Vessel Arrow assisted us with the smooth connection onto the buoy. With LV19 safely arrived in Falmouth, it just remained to wait for a break in the weather so that the vessel could change out LV22, which had been patiently waiting to be relieved on station.
This article originally appeared in the autumn 2024 edition of Flash