Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI crew achievement
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI volunteer crew member, Shaun Kent has recently become a fully qualified Navigator.
ALB (all-weather lifeboat) mechanic Shaun was put through his paces as he was being assessed as a prospective Navigator.
Shaun was asked to plan a passage from Gorleston to Whitby (for assessment purposes) but shortly after leaving the harbour he was sent below whilst the crew fitted blackout blinds to the boat windows to simulate foggy conditions.
Once back in the wheelhouse Shaun then had to use nothing but his charts and radar to safely navigate the ALB along its passage with zero visibility through the windows.
With a helm taking the wheel on the upper steering position and being given commands from Shaun down below, crew acted as lookouts as the ALB was guided slowly and safely along its route.
ALB Samarbeta was safely guided to the North Scroby cardinal buoy before being turned around to undertake an expanding square search pattern just north of the Outer Harbour involving precise bearings and timings all calculated and commanded by Shaun.
The station is pleased that Shaun passed with flying colours and the crew offers him many congratulations.
Shaun has been a volunteer crew member with Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat for six years. Shaun lives with his partner, Gemma.
Paddy, Chief Coxswain explained: ‘Shaun was put through a number of scenarios and achieved above and beyond what was required of him. It is great to have Shaun onboard to serve as one of our Navigators.’
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