Captain Calamity - 15 rescues but he doesn't want saving

by Sail-World Cruising on 26 Jan 2013 At Sail-World we started writing about British catamaran sailor Glen Crawley in 2007, when the Royal National Lifesaving Institution (RNLI) members had said they had 'lost count' of the number of times they had rescued him in his cat Mischief. Then in 2008, after several more rescues, the Newquay harbourmaster imposed a ban on him setting sail alone until he gained a basic competency qualification. He did the course, but as years passed the rescues continued.

Then, in 2010, he finally destroyed his catamaran in one of the most spectacular crashes of his career (See http://www.sail-world.com/index_d.cfm?nid=75297z!story) and RNLI officials conjectured about whether he would be on the water again.

Two years went by, but he must have replaced Mischief because this week he was rescued again when passers-by reported a problem and the lifeboats went into action.

Now the sailor, involved in his 15th sea rescue, has been begged by harbour officials to hang up his wetsuit after costing the RNLI a staggering £40,000 in call-out costs.

But Glenn Crawley refuses to give up sailing, blaming 'some granny walking along the cliffs' for the numerous emergency calls made on his behalf.

The 56-year-old says he doesn't need help from the RNLI. 'I'm not the one asking to be rescued,' he said. 'Other people make those calls. My boat has been in mortal danger many times but that's replaceable. I'm not in danger.'

The most recent rescue took place this week when Crawley sailed his catamaran off Newquay, Cornwall. When the wind dropped he became stranded.

Onlookers raised the alarm but Crawly refused help from the rescue boats and tried to sail back, the Telegraph reports. He capsized the catamaran and was forced to push the boat back to the beach.

The event was caught on video, which you can watch below.

'We will always launch when requested - even if it is to people who subsequently decline our assistance,' said a RNLI spokeswoman. The RNLI confirmed Crawley declined two offers of assistance on Monday.

'Obviously he's got this Captain Calamity nickname for a reason - and it's richly deserved,' said Andy Bridgen, Cornwall Council's Maritime Manager.

Maybe the Guinness Book of Records should be called in...