The Last Voyage of ST 206

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

 

Recently the RAF Museum asked Model Boats if they would be interested in covering the last voyage of ST 206, a restored seaplane tender that has been purchased by the Museum and is making her way from Lymington to Shepperton over the May Bank Holiday. There is some more info here: http://www.asrmcs-club.com/welcome.htm It is quite a historic vessel.

 

The magazine recently featured building a model of this launch so we were obviously interested. I turned up early at Newhaven Saturday morning to find the lifeboat, which was due to provide an escort, sitting on the marina pontoon instead of at her usual berth due to the very low spring tide. So I waited on the pontoon for the crew to appear and the Coxswain very kindly agreed to take me aboard if there was room among the RAF veterans he was also taking out to greet SP 206 – they can only take 12 passengers. Fortunately there was! I had my Lifeboat Special issue of the magazine to help establish my credentials.

 

We embarked a number of retired Air Force crew and their Chaplain (in his robes) from the lifeboat station and put to sea a bit later than planned as the ST 206 had put in to Brighton to refuel. Once clear of the harbour the Cox’n put his foot down and clinging on for dear life on the back of  a Severn Lifeboat (the RNLI’s biggest) at 25 knots is an experience I won’t forget in a hurry – absolutely fantastic!

 

We met up with the ST 206 a mile or so offshore and spent the best part of 45 minutes manoeuvring around each other with the launch making high speed runs towards us for photography. I got some excellent photos although some are at funny angles as the lifeboat was bouncing around like nobody’s business!

 

After waiting for the car ferry to come out we escorted ST 106 back into harbour and passengers were disembarked from the lifeboat which went alongside the fuel pontoon, ST 106 then tied up alongside her. There then followed a short ceremony attended by the local Air Training Corps and others including the Mayoress, the Chaplain gave us a prayer which he said was needed after his experience aboard the lifeboat!

 

There was then an opportunity for the more agile (including myself!) to scramble aboard ST 206 where I took some more photos. I took over 250 pics altogether of which the ones in the album are a small selection.

 

I also had a chat with the chap who restored her and he was very interested in the Model Boats article.

 

Must say that thumbing a lift from a lifeboat was a new experience for me. There will be full article on this event in Model Boats later in the year. In the meantime enjoy a sample of the photos: http://www.modelboats.co.uk/albums/member_album.asp?a=11061

 

Colin

 

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 15/07/2010 17:49:37

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

The RAF’s last Seaplane Tender on her final voyage

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Just in case you feel nobody has taken notice Colin, I thoroughly enjoyed looking at these photos! Thanks for posting them. It must have beena marvellous experience.

 

It was interesting to see the full sized craft after reading the article in the Model Boats special. What a handsome craf t  -no I must stay strong!

 

I’m also looking forward to the Commemorative Issue.

 

Ian

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Thanks Ian, yes it was a special experience.

 

The Commemorative issue is now in print and has been sent to those who pre ordered

 it from MyHobbyStore. It with be in W.H. Smith on the 13th. I am quite pleased with the way it has turned out and hope that others will enjoy it too.

 

Colin

[Peter FitnessParticipant @peterfitness34857]

Marvellous photos Colin.

 

I watched an episode of “Britain’s Greatest Machines” on the National Geographic 

Channel earlier this week where presenter, Chris Barrie, drove one of the boats. I think it was 206, but both 106 and 206 were featured on the program. The episode was from the latest series of these very interesting documentary programs, made in 2010.

 

Peter. 

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

Blimey , I’ve seen model boats nearly as big as  that  , Did not realise they were so small, but looked pretty impressive on the photos , A nice set there , look forward to the Magazine write up.

 

Larry

Edited By The Long Build on 06/05/2010 13:00:32

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Larry,

 

Yes, that was my immediate reaction – gosh it’s tiny! Superb sea boat though.

 

Colin

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