Culdrose sailors take giant steps

A Sea King from 771 Naval Air Squadron lifts a metal stairway out of the English Channel – one of the more unusual ‘rescue’ missions the Ace of Clubs have been called to.

The steps in question lead from the top of rocks at Porth Kerris, near St Keverne on the Lizard peninsula, down to the sea.

They were used by divers from all three Services – the imaginatively-titled Porth Kerris building nearby, which is looked after by Culdrose staff, serves as the frogmen’s dedicated ‘clubhouse’.

Winter storms ripped the stairway off the rock and tossed them into the sea – prompting a two-stage rescue operation.

First a team from HMS Seahawk Sub Aqua Club moved the steps into deeper waters – where they’d receive less of a battering from the waves – by borrowing some special lifting bags from fellow divers in Falmouth.

For two weeks the one-tonne steps remained anchored down ten metres below the surface of the sea waiting for the divers to return – this time with a 771 cab.

The Sea King was carrying out some loadlifting practice – and a rather unwieldy and heavy set of steps underwater proved as good an object to lift and shift as anything.

Once hauled out of the water, the steps were carried about 50 metres to the divers’ compound. There starfish and other sea creatures were safely removed from the metal and returned to their natural home.

The stairs require some work before they are put back in place for divers to use once more.

817 SQUADRON TO FAREWELL GOOLWA

In the year of their decommissioning, three Sea King helicopters and personnel from 817 Squadron will visit their adopted hometown of Goolwa, South Australia this weekend.

About 75 personnel will conduct their final Freedom of Entry (FOE) Parade through the River Port town on Saturday 26 February 2011, from 1025. This will be their third FOE since 1987 when the Squadron conducted their first one.

817 Squadron Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Moggach said the opportunity to visit Goolwa one last time before the Sea Kings were finally retired from service, was an honour for the personnel of the Squadron.

“The people of Goolwa have embraced our Squadron and over the years we have built a strong relationship with them. We have enjoyed the long association with the town and feel privileged to be able to say goodbye in the year of our decommissioning,” Commander Moggach said.

“Our visit to Goolwa also coincides with the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival for 2011. Some of our personnel will provide a Ceremonial Guard during the opening by the South Australian Governor and we will also conduct a fly past. The public will have the opportunity to meet personnel from the Squadron and view the Sea Kings.”

The Squadron will also visit local schools on Friday 25 February, conduct a memorial service and Ceremonial Sunset commencing at the Goolwa RSL Club on Saturday and a Search and Rescue demonstration on the Sunday.

The Freedom of Entry Parade will step off at 1025 at the Council Chambers at Cadell Street.