1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,880 Stretching from Land's End to Dover, 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,240 this is the busiest seaway in the world. 3 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:14,960 And come hell or high water... 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,360 Three, two, one, firing! 5 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:21,440 No training can ever prepare you for what we faced that night. 6 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,920 ..it is open for business 365 days a year. 7 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,800 Over 90% of the world's trade 8 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,360 travels by sea. It is not just TVs and refrigerators, 9 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,960 - it is everything around us. - Teeming with every type of vessel... 10 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:36,680 Everyone reckons their job is hardest. 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:38,960 ..and a rich diversity of wildlife. 12 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,920 It's kept safe by those who patrol its seaways... 13 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:49,240 Try and hang onto the boat! 14 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,920 ..their actions standing between triumph... 15 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:53,720 CHEERING 16 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:54,800 ..and disaster... 17 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,200 Ease off, ease off! 18 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:00,320 ..on the unpredictable waters of the English Channel. 19 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:09,920 Today, RNLI volunteers come to the rescue of some stranded mariners. 20 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:14,600 - Just the two of you on board? - Yeah. - All OK, apart from 21 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:16,040 - the electrical failure? - Yes. 22 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,760 The coldest race in the yachting calendar gets underway. 23 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:25,000 - Sorry, Hugh? Ready. Got that boat..? - Yes, it's clear. 24 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:29,520 Just going round. 25 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:34,200 And pets get caught up in the half-term rush across the Channel. 26 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,560 DOG GROWLS 27 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,640 These are just such wonderful things. 28 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,440 We didn't think it would be this busy. 29 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,120 The English Channel's busy and narrow shipping lanes, 30 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,800 unpredictable weather and shifting sandbanks 31 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,520 means its waters are no stranger to accidents and emergencies. 32 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,600 - Hello, can you hear me? - Established in 1824, 33 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:07,520 the RNLI is on the front line of saving lives at sea... 34 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,280 ..with more than 4,600 volunteers 35 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,760 crewing an active fleet of over 340 lifeboats. 36 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,520 This is Shoreham, in Sussex, nestled in the heart of the South Coast. 37 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,600 Most of the time, Don Huxley develops websites 38 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:33,400 for a digital agency in Brighton. 39 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,840 He volunteered for the charity after moving his young family to Shoreham. 40 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,240 Every Sunday, the volunteer crew meets at the lifeboat station, 41 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,800 to develop the skills they need to save lives at sea. 42 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:53,520 Gloves. 43 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:59,240 Steve Smith is the Shoreham coxswain in charge of today's operation. 44 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,600 OK, guys, as you all know, we've got a helicopter exercise today. 45 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,160 I'd like Chrissy and Simon to work the deck. Rob, 46 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,960 I'd like you to work the radar and the nav. 47 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,360 Um, Timmy, I'd like you to be the flag man, please. 48 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,080 And Dom is the lucky person that is going up on the lift. 49 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,600 The winchman will be coming down on the boat, Dom is going up. 50 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,040 Dom will then be coming down again and then the winchman will go up and 51 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,040 that'll be the end of the exercise. Just a really quick exercise. 52 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:25,840 All right. Everyone happy? 53 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:32,480 One in ten of the RNLI's rescues in the English Channel involve 54 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,840 joint operations with a helicopter. 55 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:38,760 Teamwork is crucial, 56 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,400 with the RNLI volunteers working in tandem with the professionals 57 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,560 on board the coastguard search and rescue helicopter. 58 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,400 In 2013, the RNLI estimate 59 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:53,840 325 lives were saved. 60 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,680 And these operations often required winch assistance. 61 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:06,480 So, RNLI crews often take part in winch-training exercises. 62 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,080 Back at the Shoreham RNLI base, 63 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,880 an old hand gives Dom a word of advice. 64 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,400 When you get to the top, don't even bother reaching out, 65 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,360 - turn, get hold of... - All right. Yeah. 66 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,480 That'll do you there, Ray, if you can. 67 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,000 With all systems checked, 68 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:35,440 they are ready to launch. 69 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:38,720 Could be a big splash. 70 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:54,680 In a matter of seconds, 32 tonnes of lifeboat heads for the Channel. 71 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,720 'Shoreham lifeboat, send a coastguard. 72 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,520 'We should continue to monitor on zero. Over.' 73 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,800 First chance to get winched up on to the helicopter today. 74 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,600 So, quite exciting thing to do on a Sunday morning. 75 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,920 Usually I am sat at a desk, really, so not as much time outside 76 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,600 as I would like. It is good to just get out, really. 77 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:18,200 Get out at sea. 78 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,720 The weather is pretty perfect for it today. 79 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,000 You couldn't ask for any calmer. 80 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,560 Dom and the team are now ready to rendezvous with the coastguard 81 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,120 search and rescue helicopter. 82 00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:41,560 Helicopter comes out of the Lee-on-the-Solent. 83 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:46,120 It will make a couple of passes, it will essentially track the boat 84 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:50,960 and then they will send their winchman down. I'm going to go up. 85 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,160 It is just like Top Gun, everything. 86 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:55,200 My life is just like Top Gun. 87 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:02,240 With the helicopter in position, the winchman makes his descent. 88 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,080 Not a necessity, but if we can get them lifted, I think it is 89 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,840 a good thing to get the crew to do. It gives them an extra buzz. 90 00:06:16,840 --> 00:06:19,760 Something you will never get tired of, being lifted by a helicopter. 91 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,840 - Have you been winched before? - No, mate. OK. 92 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:27,120 - Keep your hands by your side. - OK. - Just relax. 93 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,240 When you get to the cabin door, 94 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,880 - try and shuffle backwards, OK? - All right, cool. 95 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:37,280 Dom gets to see close up just how careful everyone needs to be. 96 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,560 Working two sophisticated and powerful machines alongside 97 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:53,120 a sea that is rising and falling is a precision manoeuvre. 98 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,560 The helicopter is more stable when moving into the wind rather 99 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,960 than hovering, so both vehicles must 100 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,840 keep moving in the same direction. 101 00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:04,600 Calling for expert flying... 102 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,560 and boat handling skills. 103 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,680 I think it is probably easier for us to pull 104 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,920 the boat in the direction they require and the speed they require. 105 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:13,680 And hold it on that course. 106 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,160 I think the helicopter has probably got the hardest job. 107 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:26,880 It's a successful lift off the boat, 108 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,640 but landing back on deck is more risky. 109 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,840 Fantastic, yeah, a real buzz. I was trusting the winchman. 110 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,440 Easy up, easy down, it was great. 111 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:05,160 You couldn't pick anything better to do, just for a training exercise. 112 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,040 In terms of the commitment, 113 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,400 you might miss the odd birthday party or miss the football, 114 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,920 which is something particularly close to my heart. 115 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,200 Which always seems to happen. 116 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:21,120 But it is probably more of an issue for family, 117 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,040 when you have to rush out of the house in the middle of the night 118 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:26,840 and leave the crying baby and stuff. 119 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:28,840 Doesn't make you massively popular, 120 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,600 but it is all part of the deal, really. 121 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,360 To be on the crew really gives me that connection... 122 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,800 um, with the sea, that I wouldn't have otherwise. 123 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,480 Makes you feel a bit more part of the local community, 124 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,040 living in Shoreham. 125 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,760 Yeah, it gets you down on the beach and out on the sea, 126 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:51,880 and that's what it's all about, really. 127 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,320 Nearly 37 million passengers crossed 128 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,280 the English Channel in 2014, 129 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,920 with over half choosing the subterranean route. 130 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:21,920 The Channel Tunnel dips underground in the busy port of Folkestone. 131 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,480 It emerges on the French side 31 miles later, 132 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:29,920 at Coquelles, near Calais. 133 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:36,200 The UK Border Agency operates checkpoints here, to ensure 134 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,280 everyone has the correct travel documents. 135 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:41,800 But it's not just illegal immigrants that can get 136 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,960 stopped at this important border. 137 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:50,440 Since the introduction of pet passports in 2001, many passengers 138 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:54,280 now bring their four-legged friends with them to the Continent. 139 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:00,160 However, smooth passage comes with strict regulations, that can 140 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,800 catch out the unprepared pet owner. 141 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:13,040 At the Eurotunnel pet centre here, it's the end of the half-term break 142 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:15,520 and they're expecting one of the busiest days of the year. 143 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,680 'On a day like today, 144 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:20,160 'we are probably carrying something like' 145 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,800 600 pets and probably 10,000-plus vehicles, 146 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:25,720 so we are going to have 147 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,920 a lot of traffic on the site throughout the whole day. 148 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,320 Those who took their pets on holiday have to prove their animal 149 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,160 is healthy before it can be let back into Britain. 150 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,280 'The checks are straightforward. Every animal has a microchip 151 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,880 'somewhere on their upper body.' 152 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,520 That microchip links them to a passport. 153 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:48,520 That passport then has the details of their rabies status, 154 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,680 the last time they had their inoculation. 155 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:53,680 And also, the last worming treatment they had. 156 00:10:55,920 --> 00:11:00,600 Pets staying abroad longer than five days need to be re-wormed, 157 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,000 in order to get back into the UK. 158 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:07,400 Slav and his pet Ira were turned away yesterday for this reason. 159 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:11,680 Today, they have returned to see if they can travel. 160 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,480 I had the worming done this morning. 161 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,520 Six o'clock in the morning. 162 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,280 And I don't know, well, we'll see, I don't know what it looks like. 163 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,000 Let's see if she goes through. 164 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,520 - You are travelling with one dog? - Yes. - OK. 165 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,560 So I need your pet passport and your booking, please. 166 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:34,240 Thank you. 167 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,640 - OK, so your dog name is Ira? - Ira, yes. 168 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,880 OK, so you just need to go round the neck of your dog. 169 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,560 - No need to press anything. - OK. Ira. Stay. 170 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,040 - Yes, that's fine. - OK, thank you. 171 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:53,920 The microchipping was made in May. All right. 172 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:58,320 - And then we are going to have to look at the worms treatment. - Yeah. 173 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:00,800 OK, so... 174 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:05,680 - The treatment was made today, this morning. Is that right? - Yeah. - OK. 175 00:12:05,680 --> 00:12:08,320 For the worms treatment, you need to 176 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:13,080 wait 24 hours before travelling, at least, before travelling. 177 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,600 In that case, it was on this morning at six o'clock. 178 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,240 - OK. - OK. 179 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:23,760 He is part of the French Eurotunnel staff, who have to enforce 180 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:26,000 the UK government legislation. 181 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,720 The rules are very, very strict. 182 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,800 And we are just enforcing these rules, actually. 183 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,480 It is so complicated 184 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,080 and I know it can be quite frustrating, actually. 185 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,920 My injections are 97 euros. 186 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:45,320 The hotel could be anything to 60 euros, 70. 187 00:12:46,680 --> 00:12:48,840 Plus, loss of work. 188 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:53,560 That's how it is. I am going to have to follow the rules, I suppose. 189 00:12:53,560 --> 00:12:58,000 Slav hopes he and Ira will get back to the UK tomorrow. 190 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:01,800 In you come. 191 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:05,800 Sue Thorn and her prize-winning show dog are next to check-in. 192 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,520 - Right, so you want me to do his microchip? - Yes. 193 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,400 - No need to press anything. - OK. That's it. 194 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,240 It's easy with him, because his is right there. 195 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,400 My other dog's down under its armpits somewhere. 196 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,200 - So, everything is fine. - OK, great, thanks very much. - You are welcome. 197 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,280 Sue's pet has sailed through the medical checks, 198 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,320 so it is time to get some exercise. 199 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,680 Come on, run with it, come on, run! 200 00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:32,880 That's my boy. 201 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,960 Good dog. Go on. Go on, off you go! 202 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,480 Yeah, that's my boy! That's my boy! 203 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:42,080 Whoa! Yes! 204 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,600 Steady. Steady, steady, steady. 205 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,520 That's my boy. Yes, I know. Ah, ah, ah! 206 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:49,960 Steady. 207 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:51,800 Well, you still didn't catch it. 208 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:53,040 SHE LAUGHS 209 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,040 These people who travel with their pets, 210 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,720 I think they really like their pets. 211 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,640 - That's my boy. - 'It's like, for them,' 212 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,480 they are like their kids. 213 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,080 So. 214 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,400 I use the tunnel because it is just so much easier with the dog. 215 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,600 On the way out this time, I just got in the back with him, put the 216 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,240 back up and read a book for half an hour and kept him company. 217 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,880 obviously, if you are on a boat, you have to leave the dog down on the car deck. 218 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:22,920 You have that worry, if anything happens, will you be able to go down and get to him, whereas, 219 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,720 I know when they evacuated Eurotunnel a while ago, everybody took 220 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:29,240 their dogs with them, because nobody would leave their cars otherwise. 221 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:30,480 SHE LAUGHS 222 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:34,600 I live for nearly two years in England's and... 223 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,920 I just... I was watching people with animals. 224 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:44,560 I really think that they really do care about animals in England. 225 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,640 I think I've heard statistics that say that Brits have more dogs 226 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:52,000 per head of population than probably the French do. And I think we do 227 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,960 like to take our dogs with us, really, when we go on holiday, most of us. 228 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:57,640 Big dog, big poo. 229 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:01,000 Beats farting all the way to Folkestone. 230 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,080 SHE LAUGHS 231 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:05,480 Other British pet owners, like Chris Brain, 232 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:09,240 - have more sedate best friends. - That's it. 233 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:10,960 Robbie is a Norfolk terrier 234 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,040 and accompanies his owner on business trips. 235 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,640 We come backwards and forwards about six times a year, 236 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,320 more if possible. But we've got a place in the Alps, 237 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,560 so he is a regular visitor over there. 238 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,800 We've got a holiday business and he's one of the team. 239 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,120 'We've never had a problem here.' 240 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,160 'Obviously, you've got to make sure your paperwork is in order.' 241 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:36,880 Oui. Certainly can. 242 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,640 Depending on how many's in here and how big they are, 243 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,960 you do get a few growls now and again and I often have to pick him up and go... 244 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,840 Oh, great, thank you. Thanks. 245 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,840 - Have a nice day. - Yes, and you, thanks a lot, thanks for your help. 246 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,000 Come on, Rob. Let's go. This way. 247 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:57,680 Come on. 248 00:15:57,680 --> 00:15:59,880 Don't think you can wee on the door. 249 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,880 Well, that was simple, all done, ready, off we go. 250 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,120 Right, say hello, Rob. 251 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,360 HE LAUGHS If we can get Rob away from the other 252 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:11,360 dogs, of course, that is. 253 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,760 As the day goes on, the queues never let up, 254 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:19,440 and it is frustrating for owners and their dogs. 255 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,640 She's also providing entertainment for the people in the cars, 256 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:24,920 so that is great. 257 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:26,440 Everybody is happy. 258 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:31,160 In the pet control office, discipline is highly valued. 259 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,400 OK, who is next? 260 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:37,160 'Occasionally we get barking and handbags, 261 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,800 I suppose you would call it, between dogs.' 262 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:41,920 But...as a general rule, 263 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,680 most people who are travelling with their pets have got their 264 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,960 animals pretty well trained before they even think of leaving home. 265 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,760 Some of the owners have been driving for hundreds of miles to get 266 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:54,640 to Calais. 267 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,120 Carmen has come all the way from Andorra 268 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:01,240 but with her Great Dane Lola, still manages a matching outfit. 269 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,560 I think the British are a bit pet crazy. 270 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,720 Certainly more than the Spaniards, they are. 271 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,280 Although I am Spanish, 272 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:13,760 I fit in more with the English mentality towards pets. 273 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,360 And I like looking after my pets. 274 00:17:16,360 --> 00:17:19,320 I like taking her with us. 275 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,960 For Carmen, Lola is all the protection she needs. 276 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:25,600 I travel alone with two boys 277 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,080 and she is a fantastic guardian. 278 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,240 So, a guard dog, a good guard dog. 279 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:33,960 Huge, a bit big. 280 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,320 You need a big car with her. 281 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:42,000 By dusk, most of the 600 pet owners have been processed, 282 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,720 with only eight dogs being turned back. 283 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:49,680 But John Fielder and his white retriever Lottie could be next. 284 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,000 - I do have a problem here. - Oh. 285 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,200 The signature is missing on the worms treatment. 286 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,680 Should have signed this. 287 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,840 It looks like, on this occasion, our vet has maybe forgotten to 288 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:08,240 sign on one of the treatment boxes, 289 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,880 so...I think a minor formality, 290 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,120 I would have hoped, but sometimes these things can be 291 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:18,400 viewed as very, very important, of course. 292 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,600 Hopefully, we can find a way forward. 293 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,720 The vet's signature is on the documents... 294 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:27,560 but in the wrong place. 295 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,160 Just make sure next time, really... 296 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,920 - Thank you. - All right. - Thank you very much. 297 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:36,280 Thank you. 298 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:40,840 - Good sense from our good team at Eurotunnel. - Yes. 299 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:41,880 Thank you. 300 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,560 With the Fielder family on their way, 301 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:48,520 other owners have different problems. 302 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:51,240 - We haven't got a ticket yet. - You haven't got a ticket? - No. 303 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,960 We've got his passport done and it is checked and everything. 304 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,120 - Everything is fine? - Yes. - Worms treatment? - Worm treatment, yes. 305 00:18:57,120 --> 00:18:59,160 OK, 24 hours before travelling? 306 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:03,160 - Yes. - OK. - It lasts us up to one o'clock tomorrow. - OK. 307 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:07,360 - So we are hoping we get through before then, obviously. - OK. 308 00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:10,200 Sarah and Nick have left things a bit late. 309 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,760 They need to buy a ticket and get back to Britain before Georgie 310 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:18,560 the spinal's worming certificate expires. 311 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,360 We didn't think it would be this busy. 312 00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:24,600 You know, we came back in August, at the end of the six weeks 313 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:28,360 English holiday and it was nowhere near as busy as this. 314 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:31,160 More than likely sleep in the car with him. 315 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,640 Just stick it out in the car with Georgie the spaniel tonight. 316 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:36,000 HE LAUGHS 317 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:39,480 Luckily, Georgie the spaniel was booked onto the 5.30 train 318 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,760 the next morning, before his paperwork expired. 319 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:51,120 It's been a busy day at pet control in Calais and for the dog owners of 320 00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:56,080 Britain who prefer the subterranean route across the English Channel. 321 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,160 There are days when people might leave this place, 322 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,680 particularly an evening where you get a little bit 323 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:05,920 of rain in the air, and the place starts smelling of damp dog, and you 324 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,360 will go home from here and go... HE SNIFFS 325 00:20:08,360 --> 00:20:10,640 You know you've done a good day's work. 326 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,240 HE LAUGHS 327 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:25,840 The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are responsible for the safety 328 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,680 of everyone on board a vessel in UK waters. 329 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:33,800 They manage four rescue coordination centres on the Channel, 330 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:37,000 keeping a watchful eye on the waters, 24/7. 331 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:41,160 'One of the major problems we have, when our yachts come out,' 332 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:45,280 and some people aren't quite aware of the rules and regulations, and 333 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,960 we don't have any rules in force to ensure that 334 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,920 people on yachts have the adequate training. And, therefore, will 335 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:57,280 encounter problems with other yachts. Not yachts, but other vessels. 336 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,280 And some of them don't even realise they have to have charts, 337 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:04,440 in working out the safe passage for getting across, because it is OK 338 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,360 getting on these boats, but you have to remember what is underneath. 339 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:10,520 You've got tides and currents. You think you're going straight, 340 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,160 but you're not. You're going to go one way or the other. 341 00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:15,680 When distress calls are received, 342 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:20,200 the coastguard can page the RNLI... 343 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,240 based in 38 stations along the English Channel. 344 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,880 Today, the RNLI's volunteers in New Haven, Sussex, 345 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:34,480 have received a callout. 346 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,000 They are primed and ready to go. 347 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:46,520 Coastguard has picked up a Mayday on Channel 16... 348 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,440 for a 17ft, 349 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,600 which is a fairly small boat, four miles off. 350 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,320 And, as far as we know, he's only run down at this time. 351 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:02,880 The stricken boat's crew is concerned about drifting into the shipping lane. 352 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:04,880 We've got about ten minutes to run. 353 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:09,800 And then we will ascertain what is wrong with him. 354 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,400 They have GPS coordinates to help locate the boat, 355 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,320 but it's so small they are struggling to find it. 356 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,720 Apparently, the coxswain has spotted something off our bow, 357 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:25,840 ahead of us, so it looks like it could be the target vessel. 358 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,760 Yeah, got something in front of us, that could be him. 359 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:34,640 Nothing showing up on radar, which is a little bit worrying. 360 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:36,840 With the radar not picking the boat up, 361 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,240 they have to try spot it themselves. 362 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,360 Yes, we've got him in visual about half a mile away now. 363 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,680 No immediate danger to life. 364 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,240 I'll stick the bow in and get Nick to have a chat with them, 365 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,320 just to make sure they are happy, everything is all right on board, the 366 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:55,840 crew are OK, and then we will explain how we are going to get a tow on. 367 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,600 And we will tow them back to New Haven. 368 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:00,360 Just the two of you on board? 369 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:04,720 - Yeah. - All OK apart from the electrical failure? - Yes, good. 370 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,640 Are you happy for us to pass a tow, are you happy to go up for it 371 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,200 and connect it, or do you want someone on board to help? 372 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:14,040 The crew on board the cabin cruiser don't usually fish this far out. 373 00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:20,800 They agree to connect the tow. The heave line is thrown. 374 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,960 The first one misses, but the backup line hits the mark 375 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,520 and manages to connect the two vessels. 376 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:40,560 All right? 377 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,680 We'll get you up alongside when we get in the harbour. 378 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:46,440 Right? 379 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,280 OK. Slide him one. 380 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,840 The RNLI can now tow the boat out of the shipping lane 381 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:55,400 and out of harm's way. 382 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,040 The Orca is kept at a safe distance, 383 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:01,800 but won't be going to its home port. 384 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:04,840 She did want to go to Brighton, she's from Brighton. 385 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,240 We are only about four miles off of New Haven, 386 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,320 so I've said I'm not taking him to Brighton. 387 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:13,200 We're not the AA service. It is a waste of our resources. 388 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,600 And we've got to get back and then we are on back on pagers, 389 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:19,560 ready for another service that could be more important. 390 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:22,280 - Everybody is fine. - Just sounds like an electrical failure. 391 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,080 They've been fishing for cod. They've come up on the flood tide 392 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:27,480 from Brighton, they've drifted up with the flood tide, 393 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,680 up to New Haven and then they've realised their engine won't start. 394 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:34,320 So, they put a Mayday out. Not technically a Mayday. 395 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:37,720 The definition of a Mayday is grave and imminent danger. 396 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,440 Uh, these guys are not in grave and imminent danger. 397 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,920 They had an electrical failure of their outboard motor. 398 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,000 Lovely day today, nice and calm. 399 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,440 And a pan-pan, an urgency message, to say 400 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:50,960 they had broken down and drifted would have been suffice. 401 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,040 But the main thing is they've got out a call for assistance 402 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:57,600 urgently and the lifeboat has gone out and done the job. 403 00:24:57,600 --> 00:24:59,960 But the job isn't over yet. 404 00:24:59,960 --> 00:25:02,560 Towing a dead boat back to port 405 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,840 and getting it alongside is always a delicate operation. 406 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,520 The seascape around the Port of Southampton 407 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,960 is dominated by the traffic on its water. 408 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,760 Huge container ships... 409 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,880 are intersected by leisure yachts under sail. 410 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,840 Across the UK, leisure boating is growing in popularity, 411 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:33,600 with nearly 3.5 million of us taking to the water every year. 412 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,080 Whilst summer is peak yachting season, 413 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:39,600 the hardiest of sailors race in the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's 414 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,840 Frostbite series between January and March. 415 00:25:46,120 --> 00:25:48,840 The competition was set up 20 years ago 416 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:51,880 and, today, it draws amateurs and seasoned racers from far and 417 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:56,920 wide, looking to start their sailing year with a chilly challenge. 418 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:58,960 It's a beautiful day. 419 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,640 The Malice team is made up of nine crew, 420 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,600 with day jobs ranging from chefs to customer services. 421 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:09,800 But at the weekend they are all hardened competitors. 422 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:13,280 At the helm, as skipper, is architect Mike Moxley. 423 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:16,920 I do an office job and spend a lot of my time sitting around talking 424 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:18,520 to people. 425 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:20,680 And actually, getting out on the water, it's a 426 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,600 completely different environment. 427 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,240 Often being out of radio contact, you don't 428 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,200 get anything like that, almost anywhere else in life any more. 429 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,240 Maybe if you go mountain climbing. 430 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,600 On a day like today, it's nothing but pleasure, 431 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:43,440 providing it all goes right, from the point of view of racing. 432 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:47,320 And what you're looking for, in racing, is not a walkover 433 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:51,000 but competing against people who you can have 434 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:52,840 a good scrap with. 435 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,600 The Malice team is currently top of the leaderboard 436 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:59,120 in the tournament, with three points after two races. 437 00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:05,360 We did really well. Just consistency, really, is the key. 438 00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:08,000 I think we had a first and a second, which meant 439 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,240 that we were first. 440 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:14,440 - It is a pretty good feeling. - OK, coming up. 441 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,800 A strong performance in today's race is critical to give them 442 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,880 a good chance of winning the series. 443 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:22,280 As this is winter, 444 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:25,640 the weather along the Channel is especially unpredictable, 445 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:29,600 meaning it is rarely smooth sailing and anything could happen. 446 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:32,560 Today, the wind will be across Southampton Water, 447 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:36,000 which should mean that we have a fairly energetic race. 448 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:39,680 There is a huge amount of wind shear. 449 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,240 Absolutely enormous. 450 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,800 Winter weather means the wind direction can quickly shift, 451 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,680 making life difficult when racing yachts. 452 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:53,520 Malice and her crew head for the start line in Southampton Water 453 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:56,360 for the four-mile race. 454 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,840 Experienced sailor Hugh Phillips' job is chief navigator. 455 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,520 His first task is to help them get off the start line. 456 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,960 A good start can make or break a race. 457 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:14,040 OK, ease on the jib for now, ease right off. 458 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,120 Ease on the main, I want to dawdle. OK, another jibe. 459 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:23,680 Five, four, three, two, one. 460 00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:30,440 'This is Royal Southampton race control, that was the start for class one, 461 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:32,440 'as the line was clear.' 462 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:36,480 Straight away, there is a problem for Team Malice. 463 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:40,800 Another boat blocks their clear path off the start line. 464 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:42,080 Lee-Oh! 465 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,520 OK, weight up. Weight forward. 466 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,520 Ease off, ease off, everybody. 467 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,600 The start wasn't particularly brilliant. We were a bit off the line but 468 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:56,800 we got trapped by that other boat which was below us, just before the start, pushed us up 469 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:58,840 and we then had to dip down underneath him. 470 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,560 And that took us away from the line. 471 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:05,120 The course is triangular and marked with orange buoys. 472 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:10,440 We are underway, we are just approaching, we've got about... 473 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:13,040 seven minutes to go until the first mark. 474 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:15,480 Where will be turning left and hoisting the spinnaker. 475 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:18,520 The flawed start means Team Malice must now play 476 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:20,880 catch-up on the first stretch of the race. 477 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,440 Right, I want attack. 478 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,520 On this first leg, the wind is not behind them. 479 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:28,960 So they must sail in a zigzag fashion, to try 480 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:31,000 to catch the wind in their sails. 481 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:36,240 - Is that full engine? - Yes. 482 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,000 But the wintry weather keeps everyone on their toes. 483 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,240 Of course it is coming back the other way again. 484 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:46,400 To be in with a chance of winning, 485 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:50,400 they must react quickly to the changeable gusts of wind. 486 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,360 Certainly within our knowledge, actually predicting where the 487 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:55,440 shifts are is extremely difficult. 488 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,120 It is just turbulence coming off the land. 489 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,280 As they approach the first turn, 490 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:06,240 the leaders of the eight-boat race are already rounding it. 491 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:10,920 Malice is towards the back, in a tight cluster of several boats. 492 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:12,960 This one's... 493 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,240 a bit closer than I'd like them to be. 494 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:16,760 Right, Lee-Oh. 495 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:24,240 Bearing away now. 496 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:30,560 OK, Hugh, you're just to play it as best you can. 497 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,640 We're trapped by Jynnan Tonnyx. 498 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:35,880 OK. Are you going to go... 499 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,640 Yet again, Malice has to give way to another boat 500 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:40,200 that's slightly ahead of them. 501 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:41,960 ..away. 502 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,640 Their competitors catch a good breeze and surge forwards 503 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:51,240 on to the second leg. 504 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:56,440 In fact, we're... 505 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:58,400 Push the boom out, please! 506 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:02,160 We've got a ship just at the wrong minute. 507 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,440 Malice frantically makes the turn 508 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,920 but they've missed the wind and are now at the back of the pack. 509 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:12,040 No, we lost a few places there, unfortunately. 510 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:13,840 We let two boats... 511 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,600 Well, one boat got there before us and then we let two get past us, 512 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:18,960 so there's three, actually, at the mark, 513 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,360 which was a bit disappointing. 514 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:23,520 We had a wind shift right at the last minute 515 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:25,480 and we ended up on the wrong side. 516 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:27,120 Never mind. 517 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:29,280 It just means we got to catch them now and overtake. 518 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:33,520 The team's position in the series leaderboard is now in the balance. 519 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:40,960 On the second stretch, the team must unleash the large spinnaker sail 520 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:43,400 which is specifically designed for use when sailing 521 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:45,320 in the same direction as the wind. 522 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:51,920 Getting it up quickly could help them accelerate 523 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,000 and close the gap on the opposition. 524 00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:01,160 OK, pull back a bit, please, I want to go deep. 525 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:05,720 As bowman, Clare Tyler has one of the most critical jobs on the team - 526 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:08,200 organising the lines of the Malice. 527 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:11,760 One wrong move and the vessel can become disabled. 528 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:13,080 I don't think we're winning. 529 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:16,040 I don't normally look up. I'm looking at bits of string... 530 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:17,720 The race, 531 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:20,120 I don't even know which way we're going sometimes 532 00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:23,160 cos we were doing a triangle and the breeze dropped, so... 533 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:24,600 I tend to focus on what I'm doing. 534 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:28,720 Skipper Mike remains optimistic about their chances. 535 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:34,520 No, it's not... 536 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:38,480 not going brilliantly at the moment, but we will catch up. 537 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:40,400 Oh, we're getting a bit of breeze. 538 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:46,560 With a little patience, things finally start going their way. 539 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:49,760 We've got a bit more wind now 540 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:50,920 and we've just had a lift, 541 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:55,880 which means the wind has shifted in our favour, so with a bit of luck... 542 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:59,840 This boat's really good upwind, so we've got a chance of catching up. 543 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:01,720 - We need to tack. - Right, ready about. 544 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:03,960 - Wait, wait... - Hang on, hang on, it's gone back. 545 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:07,320 Just count to ten, Hugh. Don't go too quickly. 546 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:11,160 The moment comes to angle the sales to harness the wind. 547 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:14,000 - Right, let's tack. - OK, ready about. 548 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,040 - Ready! - Lee-Oh! 549 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,480 Right, ready about. 550 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:25,680 We're ready. 551 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:33,440 - Getting a head in. - That's a huge header, Hugh. 552 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:35,560 Well, it's just going... It's all over the place. 553 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:38,720 It's shifting by 50-60 degrees. Right, let's tack. 554 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:41,720 No, we've got this guy... 555 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:43,400 Sorry, Hugh. 556 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:46,480 - Ready? - Yeah, we're ready. 557 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:51,280 The changeable winds are playing havoc with Malice's tactics. 558 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:54,400 OK, that's another huge header, I'm afraid, Hugh. 559 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,480 Oh, sugar. 560 00:33:56,480 --> 00:34:00,440 - Absurd, this wind. Absolutely mad. - No, we're just timing it wrong. 561 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:02,360 - Right, let's go for it, quick. - Get ready. 562 00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:05,880 - Yep, we're ready. - Lee-oh. 563 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:09,080 - Hang on, it's shifted back again. - OK. 564 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:13,520 As the wind is finally in their favour, they gain ground... 565 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:14,920 You got that boat, Hugh? 566 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:16,360 Yeah, yeah, it's clear ahead. 567 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:21,280 ..but they're dangerously close to the boat ahead. 568 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:30,440 We're about to touch him, Mike. 569 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:33,160 Slow boat, slow boat. 570 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:37,280 Then, disaster strikes. 571 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:38,960 That guy is hitting us. 572 00:34:40,240 --> 00:34:41,280 No. 573 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:44,240 Did we? 574 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:50,160 That boat was so slow just in front of them and Mike didn't see it, 575 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:54,440 we just nudged his back, so it's made a bad day even worse. 576 00:34:54,440 --> 00:34:58,120 Colliding with another boat means Team Malice must now complete 577 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:02,280 two penalty turns, losing them vital minutes. 578 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:05,560 OK, bearing away. We'll do the turns... 579 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:07,560 Just going around, jibe. 580 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,440 OK, right, round again. 581 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:10,720 OK, sheet in. 582 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:16,280 So, I think, probably, it's fair to say we're down the pan on this race. 583 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,120 Right, where's the breeze, guys? 584 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,440 There's a patch of breeze over there. 585 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,200 Is there one over there? 586 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:28,000 Team Malice might not be able to win this race, 587 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,680 but they're fighting hard not to come last. 588 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:36,400 OK, hang on. 589 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:38,800 We fallen in to no wind again. 590 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:41,840 On their last chance to make up any ground, 591 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:45,080 a cargo boat, literally, takes the wind out of their sails. 592 00:35:46,720 --> 00:35:49,400 That's a good wall of steel. 593 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:54,160 Well, I can honestly say that we're going to be comprehensively last. 594 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:56,200 Today has not been Malice's race... 595 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:01,920 but they're finishing with a final burst of speed. 596 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:06,880 Hugh, we're just coming up to the line. Are you ready? 597 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:08,040 Drop now. 598 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:09,560 KLAXON SOUNDS 599 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:12,960 The race is over and Malice have come in last. 600 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:16,720 So, every manoeuvre we did, the wind changed against us. 601 00:36:16,720 --> 00:36:19,960 Part of the skill of this game is trying to anticipate 602 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:24,960 what the wind does and anyway, we got it wrong just about every single time 603 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:26,000 and it happens. 604 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:29,840 The Malice crew 605 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:32,720 has the chance to make peace with the boat they collided with. 606 00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:35,560 - So, sorry about that. - All right. 607 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:38,920 No damage? 608 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:45,040 For now, it's time to head back to the clubhouse, 609 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:48,240 where Mike and his crew can drown their sorrows 610 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:50,560 and regroup for the rest of the competition. 611 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:52,040 I don't believe it. 612 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:02,640 The Channel is a popular destination for amateur sailors 613 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:06,040 in yachts, dinghies, sail and motorboats. 614 00:37:07,720 --> 00:37:09,240 The freedom of the seas means 615 00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:12,160 you don't need any qualifications, training or a licence 616 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:14,240 to sail for pleasure in the Channel... 617 00:37:17,240 --> 00:37:20,480 ..but inexperienced skippers in the world's busiest shipping lane 618 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:24,320 are not a good mix, 619 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:27,720 so the RNLI are on hand to avert disaster. 620 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:34,720 Off the coast of Newhaven, 621 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:38,320 the RNLI volunteers are currently out on a shout, 622 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:41,160 towing back a leisure boat with an electrical fault 623 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:43,000 that was drifting in the shipping lane. 624 00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:49,200 They had to down tools at their day jobs to respond to the scene. 625 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:50,800 I was painting up at a school, 626 00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:53,720 a local school, as the kids were on half term. 627 00:37:53,720 --> 00:37:56,760 I was up there with a lick of paint, to freshen all the corridors. 628 00:37:56,760 --> 00:37:59,360 Funnily enough, one of the staff members came by and said, 629 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,000 "I've noticed we haven't had any shouts for a while," 630 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:04,760 and approximately five minutes later, the pagers went off, 631 00:38:04,760 --> 00:38:08,040 so I'll blame him when I get back and he can put the kettle on. 632 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:11,920 I was just off duty at home when the pager went off, ironing. 633 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:19,560 On an RNLI lifeboat, the coxswain is in charge of the boat at sea. 634 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:23,480 They make all the decisions during a rescue operation 635 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:26,840 and part of their job is to train future leaders. 636 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:29,120 We got a trainee coxswain on board at the moment. 637 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:31,680 It's quite easy to go out on a Sunday and practise 638 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:34,520 and do this, that and the other but on a real job, 639 00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:36,200 you have to start thinking. 640 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:38,280 Mark should now be thinking 641 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:40,680 how he's going to get alongside when we get in Newhaven 642 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:44,240 without squashing it, because we've got 44 tonnes of boat here 643 00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:47,320 and that's only a little 17-foot cabin cruiser. 644 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:50,000 He should be doing some thinking now. 645 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:51,760 It's exciting. 646 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:52,960 No, it's good. 647 00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:56,000 It's good to have the opportunity to practise in a real-life situation. 648 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:59,560 I think the issue is it's quite a tiny boat 649 00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:04,760 and when we tie the boat alongside us here, 650 00:39:04,760 --> 00:39:07,120 putting it alongside the pontoon will be interesting 651 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:12,480 because we're a very heavy boat relative to the tiny boat there 652 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:16,320 so we need to be very careful that, I guess, we don't squash her 653 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:19,360 so we'll play it carefully. 654 00:39:19,360 --> 00:39:21,560 The first test for Mark 655 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:25,280 is to determine how fast he can tow such a small boat. 656 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:28,040 Yeah, were going along about 5.5 knots here 657 00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:29,680 so, yes, it's a safety issue 658 00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:32,680 and, obviously, the faster we go, the more wash we create 659 00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:35,480 which makes it a bit more of an uncomfortable and unsafe ride 660 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:37,840 for the guys being towed. 661 00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:39,160 For safety reasons, 662 00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:41,640 they must keep the rescued crew on board the Orca 663 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:45,640 informed about the procedure to get them in to harbour. 664 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:49,520 Mike the mechanic tries to make contact. 665 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:54,800 Vessel Orca, this is Newhaven lifeboat, channel 67, over. 666 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:57,240 Go ahead, over. 667 00:39:57,240 --> 00:39:59,760 Vessel Orca, this is Newhaven lifeboat. 668 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:02,640 Our intention, sir, once we've proceeded further north 669 00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:05,440 is to bring you alongside our starboard side. 670 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:07,480 We will fender our vessel. 671 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:11,160 If you proceed to put fenders out on your starboard side, 672 00:40:11,160 --> 00:40:13,760 we will then put you on the visitors' berth, over. 673 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:20,160 It seems the electrical fault with their engine isn't their only problem. 674 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:23,040 For whatever reason, he can't hear our transmission, 675 00:40:23,040 --> 00:40:25,720 so potentially, his radio might be running low 676 00:40:25,720 --> 00:40:29,120 and he's able to transmit, but he's not able to receive. 677 00:40:29,120 --> 00:40:32,600 I assume his radio is just about to drop off. 678 00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:35,000 I'm just going to try on a different radio, to confirm 679 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:38,240 that it's definitely his radio and not our radio. 680 00:40:38,240 --> 00:40:39,800 Vessel Orca, Vessel Orca, 681 00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:42,200 this is Newhaven lifeboat, Newhaven lifeboat, 682 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:43,840 channel 67, over. 683 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:48,760 And that proves my point. 684 00:40:48,760 --> 00:40:50,400 With no comms to the Orca, 685 00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:52,880 the operation will be even more dangerous. 686 00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:58,160 The volunteers have no choice but to proceed with the operation 687 00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:04,280 while the Orca's crew remains in the dark about how they'll be manoeuvred to safety. 688 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:06,920 Were just going to shorten up the tow now, secure him alongside 689 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:09,040 and just pop him alongside the visitors' berth, 690 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:11,040 so the coastguards can get his details 691 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:12,760 and he can effect his repairs. 692 00:41:14,720 --> 00:41:18,120 But there's another logistical problem to contend with - 693 00:41:18,120 --> 00:41:21,280 a cross-channel ferry is about to leave the port 694 00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:23,640 and they need to get the Orca out of the way. 695 00:41:23,640 --> 00:41:27,400 Yeah, we've got about five minutes to get this alongside 696 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:29,040 and tied up and out of the way 697 00:41:29,040 --> 00:41:32,400 before the ferry leaves to go to France. 698 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:34,960 They pull the Orca tight to the lifeboat 699 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:37,560 so they can effectively carry her to the jetty 700 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:41,000 and push her into the visitors' berth, 701 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:43,240 but it's a tricky manoeuvre. 702 00:41:43,240 --> 00:41:47,320 Er, a slight breeze here, which is blowing us of the quay. 703 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:52,680 Boat handling, with a 44-tonne boat with a small thing strapped alongside, 704 00:41:52,680 --> 00:41:57,080 is not a very pleasant thing to do on the best of days. 705 00:41:57,080 --> 00:42:00,400 This is good practice for Mark. 706 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:02,560 They'll thrust out a little bit... 707 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:06,200 Just a little bit. 708 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:09,720 Trainee coxswain Mark is doing his best to stop the lifeboat 709 00:42:09,720 --> 00:42:12,240 crushing the cabin cruiser against the quay. 710 00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:15,000 They'll thrust in. Keep it there, keep it there. 711 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:20,720 Now we've got them alongside, 712 00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:22,640 we're just going to get alongside ourselves 713 00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:26,640 and make sure the boat's ready to go to sea whenever it needs to 714 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:31,080 and we'll go back to the boathouse and have a cup of tea. 715 00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:34,040 With the boat safely attached to dry land, 716 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:37,880 the anglers have a chance to reflect on their rescue. 717 00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:41,600 We headed out this morning, sat there happily fishing 718 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:43,960 until we realised we had to get out of the shipping lanes 719 00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:45,320 cos they won't stop for no-one. 720 00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:48,400 That's when we realised there was a problem with the big engine, 721 00:42:48,400 --> 00:42:51,720 so I got the little baby engine out, which is new, 722 00:42:51,720 --> 00:42:54,640 and it decided to oil up and I'd forgot me tools, 723 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:56,720 so it's a good lesson for us. 724 00:42:56,720 --> 00:43:02,760 With the Orca out of harm's way, the giant ferry can leave for France 725 00:43:02,760 --> 00:43:04,800 and the RNLI lifeboat is moored up, 726 00:43:04,800 --> 00:43:07,320 ready for the next callout on the Channel.