New Book, The RIB- Student experiment that spawned a new era in rescue

by Daniel Fisher, Western Mail/Sail-World on 13 Jul 2010 Next time you use your RIB dinghy, or have the misfortune to need a rescue craft, spare a thought for an innovative group of students who had a zany idea nearly 50 years ago that no-one believed would work.

It was a student experiment with wood, rubber and 'whatever they could get their hands on' that would go on to help save thousands of sailors’ lives around the globe, and end up as the ubiquitous yacht dinghy.

Teenagers at a Welsh college in the ’60s, working with little more than plywood and inflatable tubes, invented a boat that would forever change the face of water rescue.

Now the unlikely role played by Atlantic College in maritime history has been detailed by a former headteacher in a new book called 'The RIB'.

The Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) is today recognised the world over as the most effective safety boat for in-shore rescue, and is used by thousands more for many sorts of uses, including the ubiquitous yacht dinghy.

But it only came about when adventurous students at the Vale of Glamorgan college for international students had to replace the torn bottom of the 12ft long sailing club rescue boat in 1964 – with a plywood sheet glued to the inflatable tubes.

The college’s link with sea rescues was already established because of its commanding coastal position, which saw it doubling up as an RNLI inshore lifeboat station staffed with the help of tutors and students.

David Sutcliffe, a French and German teacher at the time, said: 'The sceptics didn’t believe it would work. The Bristol Channel can be a very fierce place, especially in winter. I think people considered our plans to take the new boats out as suicidal.'

The first boats were 'incredibly primitive' and lasted no more than a few trips, added Mr Sutcliffe. But by this time, the RNLI had begun to take a real interest in the students’ activities.

'It was motivating to have the professionals take such an interest in their activities. It got them to go back into the sea to try again and again,' he said.

While the plywood was largely successful, it was deeply uncomfortable. The students rebuilt the floor to a new design and named the boat Atlanta.

Over the coming years the RIB was further developed, but it came to wider attention in 1969 when in just three weeks students built Psychedelic Surfer. The twin-engined 21ft vessel would defy sceptics the world over.

The RIB was entered into Britain’s first ever Round Britain Power Boat Race in 1969 along with approximately 60 others.

Psychedelic Surfer was among just 30 finishers, coming 19th in the race.

'This was the big breakthrough. The boat was almost not entered as those who scrutinised the boats before the race didn’t believe such a boat would be suitable,' Mr Sutcliffe said.

'But when it finished 19th, suddenly people saw that the boat was tough enough. They realised it had a future. I have no doubt that this PR opportunity meant the rescue services were more open to using the RIB.'

The boat quickly became a major part of inshore rescue. However, the crowning moment when it became an essential adjunct to any rescue organisation was when Occidental Petroleum’s oil platform Piper Alpha exploded in the North Sea on July 6, 1988. Nearby support ships launched rescue craft in an attempt to save those who had jumped into the sea.

However, the only ones able to get close enough were two RIBs, named Atlantic 21s. One was caught in an explosion and her crew perished. The other saved several men and was able to get out in time.

With modern materials and technologies the Atlantic boats have been developed into sophisticated variations that are now used in their hundreds of thousands worldwide by lifesaving organisations, the offshore energy industry, the military, the marine racing world and the leisure market.

It has often been claimed that the college earns royalties. However, as Mr Sutcliffe explained: 'Desmond Hoare, who finally patented his design in 1973, handed over all rights to the RNLI for £1.'

The RIB, the brand new book that tells the story of the students and their quest, by David Sutcliffe, and priced at just £15, is available via the Atlantic College website, by clicking http://www.atlanticcollege.org/news-1/2010/05/25/the-rib-by-david-sutcliffe/!here