Newquay Coastguard Helicopter on Excerise with Penlee Lifeboat 17th March 2019

The location was Mounts Bay for a winching exercise between Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Newquay based Sikorsky S-92 Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ. This is essential training for all involved, added to this the weather was not playing ball for photography but must of added a more realistic element to the exercise. Conditions were tricky, sunshine, dark skies, heavy showers, low visibility, all thrown into the mix during the exercise. Images were the best I could get due tothe weather and distance off shore. So they are not stunning but give a good record of the training exercise.

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ on exercise

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ on exercise

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ on winching exercise

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ on winching exercise

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ training in Mounts Bay

 Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ training in Mounts Bay

Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ training in Mounts Bay

Coastguard/RNLI Exercise in Mounts Bay

Witnessed another Coastguard/RNLI exercise in Mounts Bay. Unfortunately the wind direction meant the Helicopter and Lifeboat were travelling away from my position. A few shots of the Penlee Lifeboat and Coastguard Helicopter were gained before the exercise elements disappeared almost over the horizon. In fact checking the radar on the phone it looked like they were four to five miles off the coast adjacent to Praa Sands!!! So here are some images I did manage.

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen"

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter C-MCGY

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen"

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter C-MCGY

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter C-MCGY

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter C-MCGY

RNLI and Coastguard Night Exercise

Our rescue services often train together to hone/polish their skill set, this was one such occasion. Problem for me was this time it would mostly be dark and I would have no idea where the lifeboat/helicopter would be positioned, hence I set up with my 500mm lens. Exercise commenced and the Penlee Lifeboat and Bristow SAR helicopter from Newquay positioned themselves to close to me during their first pass (aargh!!!!) Could of done with a 200-300mm lens not a 500mm!!! Still had to make do with what I had. This was going to be testing as it soon got dark, very dark.  The ISO was soon being turned up the scale from 20000-51,200 ISO. (sure the camera can see in the dark better than I can) As a result of pushing the ISO images are somewhat noisy but on the whole not bad for a night shoot full of action.

Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGY

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen"

Coastguard Helicopter winching to lifeboat

Coastguard Helicopter hi-line transfer to lifeboat