Good to read that the crew were all well if a little shaken
Just goes to show what a simple gear failure can do even on what looks to be a very nicely looked after boat. Mitchell 31's are very solid boats so I am sure the boat and engine are recoverable.
But it may have been a different outcome a week earlier than good friday with not many other boats about, or further offshore late in the day.
Well worth mental consideration on what you would do to keep your boat afloat in such circumstances.
[Plastic bags and Rags lashed around the shaft and stern tube should have slowed the leak enough to allow pumps to cope, and should have been able to done in the 5 mins the rescue boat took] but that is without considering a wife and child onboard and panic.
1. Call Mayday
2. Make sure crew are safe , in lifejackets and [if carried liferaft], flares and grab bag ready
3. Try everything you can to keep the boat afloat, while she floats stay onboard if sea state and position allows
In the RN excessive training is given to crews in fire fighting , Damage control and machinery breakdowns. a 999 call is sod all use half way across the oceans.
Unlike the emergancy services, in the RN saving the ship is the main and sometimes only priority.
Charlie