The RIB is fixed! The scientists can do beach surveys again! It’s only raining quite a lot so I decide to go with them. We set off up the river Helford and look for a beach to survey. We soon spy a small beach to starboard and head for that. Marc the medic is piloting the boat and is keen to drop us quickly. He says this needs to be a rapid Normandy style beach assault. As the RIB touches the stones we leap out, endeavouring to avoid water in the wellies.
Normandy assault turns out to be apposite. The beach is Trebah beach, and in June 1944 around 7,500 American soldiers departed from this very beach for the invasion of Omaha beach on D-Day. You can view footage here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-cornwall-47525635
We complete two rainy beach surveys and head for the pub.
Later the RIB develops problems and the evening’s shore leave is cancelled. Never mind. It was raining anyway.