Tragically a man in his 50’s died after a tree fell on his caravan as Storm Goretti raged through the SW of England. This exceptionally strong storm reached hurricane wind speeds of 99 mph (Force 14 on the extended Beaufort Scale or Category 2 hurricane) as it raved the west of the UK on the 9th of January. This is the officially recorded wind speed at St Mary’s on the Scilly Isles but unofficial wind speeds of up to 127 mph have been reported.
The track of the heart of the storm passed over the Seven Stones Reef, the first station of LV50 in 1879. Storms of this magnitude also happened in the past and it explains why Trinity House wanted an extra strong vessel here.
Pity the poor crew of any ship caught in such condition. Thankfully most ships would have headed for harbour before the worst hit but not a lightship crew.
Imagine the terror of being on a lightship in a hurricane! No escape without an engine, impossible to go on deck, huddling below and hoping the anchour holds.
Brave men.
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from National Historic Ships facebook page (some wording changed here).