Brixham to get new patrol boat

Current one can't cope in storms

Brixham is in line to get a new high-powered patrol boat to deal with harbour emergencies such as the one caused by storms last weekend, because the current boat could not cope with the conditions.

Gusts of 78 mph were recorded at Berry Head at the height of Saturday’s storm, which is thought to be a record for August. The weather prompted a Met Office ‘risk to life’ alert across the region.

A strong swell combined with the powerful northerly winds caused extreme conditions in the outer harbour, with some vessels breaking free from moorings and others at risk of being left adrift in the pounding waves.

In one incident, the crew of a pleasure boat rescued a yacht which had broken its moorings on a pontoon in the harbour and was being damaged by the waves. A crew member from the leisure craft leapt on to the pitching deck of the yacht to attach a tow line.

The incidents re-opened the debate into the long-awaited ‘northern arm’ breakwater which could shelter the harbour in such extreme conditions. It would cost tens of millions of pounds, and remains a ‘long-term aspiration’ for Torbay Council.

In the meantime, the council is looking at beefing up its patrol vessels in Brixham.

On Saturday, harbour staff worked with coastguards and local boat operators to minimise the damage in difficult and challenging conditions, and a spokesman said: “The Brixham harbour work boat Signal 2 was used initially, but the swell became too great to continue safely. The rigid inflatable boat based in Torquay could not be activated due to the wind strength, subsequent sea state and swell.

“The harbour authority is currently looking into the possibility of obtaining an additional rigid inflatable to be stationed at Brixham, subject to cost constraints.”

The spokesman said that harbour staff had worked as best they could in the difficult conditions to move as many as possible of the highest-risk vessels to avoid them sinking.

The spokesman added: “At all times they were mindful of their own safety and that of the public and harbour users. Unfortunately we did not manage to reach all of the at-risk boats in time.

“Northerly winds are challenging in Torbay due to the limited protection from that direction, especially in Brixham.”