The RNLI

^ everyone turns up for Helo training!

They need to be orange and grey for me. There is one parked up at Culdrose by the Helston Cottage Hospital roundabout.

@mrmoofo - I’d love to take you up on your offer. Local enough I hope; Brighton!

most are to deal with broken-down yachts needing assistance

Surely if someone can afford a yacht they could afford to pay a fee for this service, to the RNLI or anyone else.

Hardly what people are donating money to charity for.

I did a short stint as crew on the North Kessock ILB back when they had a D class.

I’m Crew at Troon on the Trent & D-Class.

He’s not on the boats but is part of the people who support the crews.

We need the shore crew to keep things ticking along and help us launch & recover. A vital part of the crew 🙂

The story of how we got to the point where mad right-whingers are anti-RNLI is fascinating. The increase in donations every time Faarage slags them off is quite heartwarming too!

He’s someone I really want to hit in the face with a chair!

most are to deal with broken-down yachts needing assistance
Surely if someone can afford a yacht they could afford to pay a fee for this service, to the RNLI or anyone else.

Hardly what people are donating money to charity for.

I think you really need to go away and maybe read the history of the RNLI and what their mission statement is, and come back and apologise for such a stupid statement!

I always donate when the volunteers are in town asking for donations, as a nation, the RNLI are an organisation that I feel we can be genuinely proud of for the service they provide regardless of who, or what they are literally risking their lives to rescue.
I always watch Saving Lives At Sea, and as someone above says, the interviews afterwards can be very emotional.

My Great Grandfather was a founder member of the Weston Super Mare lifeboats and station.

Which is/was on Birnbeck Island, the only island in the U.K. linked to the mainland by a pier, which has been allowed to fall into dereliction by a series of useless owners, which ultimately denied the RNLI access to their station and launch facilities.

Which is due in the reasonably near future to be restored and access to the lifeboat station will be the first part to be accessible!
Work has already started, apparently, and I’m really looking forward to being able to visit the station, and ultimately the island itself, which I’ve never been able to do.

Further down the coast is Burnham-on-Sea, which has an inshore boat, established in 1992, when they started fundraising for a boat, and Anneka Rice and the BBC Challenge Anneka built the boathouse in 72 hours. Next door they have a hovercraft, in fact they have two, thanks to fundraising started by the Western Daily Press newspaper, after a tragedy in 2002 when Lelaina Hall, a 5 year old girl got stuck in the mud and drowned before rescuers could get to her. The paper raised £115,000. In its first year of operation it helped or rescued 50 people! It’s a really dangerous stretch of coastline, the sea goes out about a mile, and comes in at around 3mph, and there’s large areas of thick mud, which traps people every year; a bit like Morecambe Bay, but with the second highest tidal rise and fall in the world. I live around sixty miles from Burnham, but I always donate when I’m down there, BARB are all volunteers, like the RNIB, but they rely on local support, and I believe the newspaper still supports them as well.
The thought of a little girl stuck in the mud while the sea comes towards her I find deeply upsetting and I think the team are an essential part of the work the RNLI do.

I know about them. I'm not sure actually what was meant by needing assistance - when there's a danger to life, or just if anyone needs a bit of help? I had assumed the latter, like an AA breakdown or tow service for yachts. I'd hope they'd get a chunky donation in either case.

Surely if someone can afford a yacht they could afford to pay a fee for this service, to the RNLI or anyone else.

if you sail in the solent or some other very busy parts of the south coast there is a commercial “breakdown” provider similar to the AA/RAC, but in most other parts of the country there are no such offerings.  You might be able to arrange a tow on a commercial basis from a passing fishing vessel or even as a favour from another yacht - and that is where the coastguard will usually start looking for help but in reality where dovebiker is based a vessel adrift may present a serious danger.  Yacht is a very broad term - if it has sails you’d hope that in most situations the skipper could simply sail if it’s a breakdown, but tides and weather are not gentle up there and sometime the prudent choice is a tow.

their French equivalent will come and save your life for free but towing your boat in with a mechanical will result in an invoice.  The feeling is that in doing so it discourages people from contacting the Coastguard early to alert them to a developing problem - which actually endangers more lives.

Hardly what people are donating money to charity for.

i don’t think most people donating money to the RNLI want them to differentiate between an ill-prepared paddleboarder, a yacht owner with fuel contamination and a fishing boat who was worrying more about his catch than his position and runs aground.   In general RNLI crew are people who enjoy being helpful to others, simple “breakdown” call outs provide real life training / experience, and if you removed all of the “someone else could have done it” jobs it might be difficult to justify the existence of the station at all…

I also expect that a large proportion of yacht people are donors; perhaps donations would be lower if there was a charge for a call out.

Always supported the RNLI, wife is from Sussex and many happy hours spent looking round stations with the kids when they were little - there was some sort of kids club with a magazine and you got a badge every year.

Donated to the "Farage" lifeboat campaign, and most recently after my extended gammin family went off on a similar rant against them.

While it seems wrong that they are a charity and volunteers, can't help thinking a state run version would not be an actual improvement.

    I’d love to take you up on your offer. Local enough I hope; Brighton!

@Pauly   No problem.  We are an inclusive organisation - we even welcome people from Brighton!

I am on duty this week - so PM me

Surely if someone can afford a yacht they could afford to pay a fee for this service, to the RNLI or anyone else.

Hardly what people are donating money to charity for.

The union star rejected assistance because of a cost attached. And look how that ended for the Penlee community.

While it seems wrong that they are a charity and volunteers, can’t help thinking a state run version would not be an actual improvement.

That's kind of my feeling about it, too. It really ought to be a state-run organisation, or merged with the Coastguard. Same for mountain rescue - they should be part of the fire service. Which is not in any way to denigrate the work the volunteers do, just that relying on charity and volunteers for an emergency service doesn't feel right.

I’m Crew at Troon on the Trent & D-Class

I remember when they got a brand new Arun when I was in primary school. Is Ian D still involved?

That’s kind of my feeling about it, too. It really ought to be a state-run organisation, or merged with the Coastguard. Same for mountain rescue – they should be part of the fire service. Which is not in any way to denigrate the work the volunteers do, just that relying on charity and volunteers for an emergency service doesn’t feel right.

Being independant means we are free from direct government interference.  The coastguard in France charges as significant amount to rescue people - hence people will sometimes avoild contacting them.  Just like mountaining bikers, not all boat users are mega rich.

The Coastguard controls the SAR operations and "asks" us to launch.

If it was government run you could forget about stations in remote places / investment/ and the good will of the volunteers that currently work there.

I have no doubt that there are parts of our role that should be in governments hands.  They already have Border Force - and could easily take that in-house.  They don't

Whilst were are considered a "Blue Light Service" we are not allowed to carry blue lights, use them in any way, or break the law in driving to and from stations.

Just answering the "rich yachties" comment.  It's not what we spend most of our time doing

Volunteers risking thier lives to save others, and winding the far right up in the process. Legends, all of them, and to those of you on here that are involved, in whatever capacity, thank you.

The union star rejected assistance because of a cost attached. And look how that ended for the Penlee community.

Absolute ignorance and stupidity of the Master led to all of those deaths, including 3 members of his family.

The Union Star was offered Lloyds Open Form. The financial settlement would of been based on arbitration afterwards, the amount rewarded to the tug depends on the value saved and how difficult was the operation. It's not a blank cheque. The insurance company would of paid it.

Fully agree that the RLNI should stay independent of government. I don’t know of many people in the sailing and boating world who don’t contribute to the RLNI either one offs or regularly. certainly my family who were lucky to go sailing in our youth but haven’t for many years for various reasons still donate every year.

I remember when they got a brand new Arun when I was in primary school. Is Ian D still involved?

The Arun was long before my time in Troon 🙂

Iain left about 3 years ago now, he was looking after the D Class until then.

Absolute ignorance and stupidity of the Master led to all of those deaths, including 3 members of his family.

The Union Star was offered Lloyds Open Form. The financial settlement would of been based on arbitration afterwards, the amount rewarded to the tug depends on the value saved and how difficult was the operation. It’s not a blank cheque. The insurance company would of paid it

Yes i know, but my point is it shows the issue for having a paid "rescue service" for "those that can afford it. I am sure the above volunteers would rather nip out for a yacht that's a bit floaty without an engine than two hours later playing chicken with big waves and hard rocks because Commodore Halfbrain was a bit tight.

Sea rescue history related, My parents live in a house called Rockett House on the Yorkshire coast near Hull. In a former life it was used a kind of station for the local rescuers. In case a ship in distress out at sea, they would go to Rockett house and collect a cart which had a series of firework style rockets which they would take to the coast and then fire AT the ship in distress. they would literally fire rockets at the ship with the aim of getting a lightweight rope to the ship, which they could then pull a thicker rope.

I'm not convinced of how safe I'd feel knowing that in a moment of distress out at sea I would be reliant on a series of locals lighting fireworks at me (successfully) with the aim of getting a rope from which I'm not sure what I would do with. drag the ship onto the nearest rocks? that and they couldn't spell the word Rocket either would trouble me that they were the best team for the job!

Found this link about the type of thing. Worked well further north http://www.newbigginrocket.org/history

The RNLI approach seems like a much better way of saving lives at sea

There is a rocket house in Low Newton by the Sea.

It's a lovely little holiday let now.

https://www.napperarchitects.co.uk/rocket-house/

We have a Rocket Cart House in South Pembrokeshire too. It has amazing views of both Milford Haven waterway and the rougher south side at Freshwater West.

The current lifeboat at Angle is now based predominantly on the Milford Haven side of the waterway as Angle can no longer provide enough volunteers - that move seems to have secured its services for now - which is good as we have a lot of shipping and coastal activities going on round here.

https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300017166-rocket-cart-house-angle

^What a charming little building.

@Killer once you got the heavier lines secured a breeches bouy (essentially a littering with a giant pair of shorts to act a bit like a sit in climbing harness) was used to haul the crew off, one by one.  I think they may still be “in use” in some places - rocket line throwers are definitely still available.

@poly They are definitely still in use overseas.

Rocket Line throwers are still mandatory ship's SAR equipment.

I was once part of a  group of assorted resue folk invited to look around an RNLI station on Anglesey many years ago. Their boat was being serviced and they wanted to take the replacement out for shake down so invited us on a trip out to sea.  We got showed around the boat and as we turned back around I was chatting to the coxswain and he gave me a heading and let me take over the controls. He was then called below deck to answer a radio call, leaving me in charge of this ruddy great lifeboat, crashing through the waves, the look on my mates face was priceless - I'm sure they thought I was going to somehow crash the thing!!

My grandad was in the Fleet Air Arm and was always a fan of the RNLI and impressed that on me as a child, buying me bits of branded stuff and subscribing me to the kids magazine.

I grew out of that, and my grandad died a few years ago, and while I live fairly near the coast, I don't really think of myself as someone who's likely to need their services (though I do paddle and surf very occasionally) and so didn't think much of it.

But when Farage went on the attack about them rescuing migrants in the channel, I thought that was as good a reason as any to set up a small direct debit, which I've kept going. I still associate it with my grandad too, so it feels doubly nice for me. It would have been his 96th birthday yesterday, so this is a timely thread.

Nice to see so much support of all kinds on here for them ??

Yeah I've often donated into collection boxes and such but the anti-immigrant stuff is the only time i've ever sat down at a screen and gone "let's make a proper donation".

gobuchul
Free Member

Rocket Line throwers are still mandatory ship’s SAR equipment.

Ah that's brilliant, I'm sure they didn't need to make it look like a party popper but they went ahead and did it anyway

Lots of local rocket related stuff here on the north east coast. One of the most enjoyable, if not the most efficient, ways of supporting the RNLI is to buy a pint or bottle of Rocket Brigade IPA from Cullercoats Brewery, a proportion of the proceeds from which is donated to the RNLI.

Thanks to all the RNLI volunteers, your work is amazing!

We donate every month as it's not often you get the chance to help real heroes. I upped the amount when the RNLI became a target of the culture warriors. Up yours Nigel.

Likewise.  As an ex Diver living in one of the most land locked areas of the UK, the RNLI are on a monthly donation and the more it upsets Farage and his gammons the better!

If anyone wants to be truly humbled by the heroics in the history of the RNLI, have a read about the rescue of the Suevic in 1907. All undertaken in open, rowed lifeboats. Truly remarkable...

https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history/timeline/1907-the-suevic-rescue#

The Rocket was invented by Henry Trengrouse. A fact I remember from his memorial in the church yard of the big town near where I grew up.

He had quite an interest in sea rescue and also pushed for proper burials for ship wreck victims.

I need to make another donation soon.

Modern this, modern that. Safety here, safety there.

The seas around Britain are dangerous places. An unexpected dunking in that water at any time of year can rapidly escalate into a life or death situation.

Some of the exploits of RNLI volunteers to this day are sobering.

Ex Merch, the only charity go out of my way to donate to.

stgeorge
Full Member
Ex Merch, the only charity go out of my way to donate to.

Niche but I'm with you.

This is for you Vicky, I STILL LOVE YOU!!

In the talk I attended on Tuesday it was claimed that the RNLI was the first charity in the world to organise street collections.

Apparently in the early years the RNLI relied on large donations from the wealthy Victorian elite as was typical at that time. However in those days maritime disasters were big news stories, and ones which deeply concerned ordinary Britons.

It wasn't just concern for those who had lost their lives but also for those left behind, including the windows and children of lifeboat volunteers who had lost their lives. Ordinary Brits wanted to make small contributions to express both their concerns and their appreciation.

That's when it was decided to collect pennies from ordinary people in the streets.There were invariably huge increases in funds after any particular disaster and the  collectors had purses on the end of poles about 3m long which could reach people deep in the crowds.

These days I believe that street collections have been replaced mostly by collection from supermarket entrances.

I guess that as a seafaring island nation the work of the RNLI was always going to tap deep into the national psyche.

The first photo in this link shows the RNLI street collectors and their long poles, although I think I underestimated when I suggested that they were 3m long!

https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history/timeline/1891-first-street-collection

I'm a volunteer on one of the crews on the Thames. Quite a different setup from most of the coastal stations though. No pagers, instead you stay on station for 12 hour shifts. Also we use the E Class. Love the atlantic 85s, but not suitable for the work we do.

What is the appeal of the Atlantic 85? The E Class looks impressive!

@morphio - I thought that the Thames and Humber stations were crewed by full time employees?

How on earth do you manage 12 hour shifts alongside your "day job"?

Atlantic 85s are awesome boats and great fun to be bouncing around on, still use them when I'm lucky enough to do training down at Poole.

The E Class (We're on the Mk2 now, much faster and more powerful: https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/our-lifeboat-fleet/e-class-lifeboat) is more suitable for the Thames. Much more maneauverable in and around bridges with the jets, safer around people and I've often had to go places with less than a foot of water to spare below me.

Wouldn't be much use on the coast though, while it slams less than the Mk1 when we tested it, at the speed it goes for it's length it's easy to get the jets out of the water when hammering across waves which can get very brutal. And we don't have self righting gear on the Mk2 to save weight.

There's a mix. We have a few paid full timers that work 4 on, 4 off.
Always 3-4 people on shift. Typically 1 or 2 are full timers, the rest volunteer. Sometimes the crew is all volunteer, but not most shifts.

The nice thing about shifts is you can plan them in. 2 a month is the requirement to stay current. Typically I'll book a couple of night shifts or a day shift and a night shift a long way out in the calendar (7 to 7) and then closer in people fill in for the spaces left. 1 night shift after work is generally fine. I try to avoid 2 in the same week these days.

What is the appeal of the Atlantic 85? The E Class looks impressive!

A lot easier to unbolt outboard engines to swap them over if there is a problem than switch inbuilt jet dives.  Jets are good around people, shallow water, ropes etc so make a lot of sense for the thames.   But run a jet up a shingle beach and you'll have a very grumpy mechanic, but can probably polish out the scratches on an Atlantic 85.  The hull forms are probably different for the different size of waves they are likely to encounter too.  The e-class doesn't have traditional inflatable tubes which might mean its a bit rougher on the sides of anything it comes alongside probably less of an issue on the thames where those boats are used to coming alongside dock walls etc, and soft tubes would take quite a battering from those things themselves.

@morphio – I thought that the Thames and Humber stations were crewed by full time employees?

How on earth do you manage 12 hour shifts alongside your “day job”?

For some people a highly predictable 2x 12 hrs a month might be far better than a pager going off at random times.  Its not like routine lifeboat call outs have no disruption to job/family life.  I think Humber are all paid crew but Thames are mix of vounteers and paid?

For some people a highly predictable 2x 12 hrs a month might be far better than a pager going off at random times.  Its not like routine lifeboat call outs have no disruption to job/family life.  I think Humber are all paid crew but Thames are mix of vounteers and paid?

Exactly. We've already blown past 333 callouts so far this year. That's never going work with pagers. And our target is kitted up and boat moving within 90 seconds of the Coastguard phone call. That's not going to happen even if everyone lived next to the station.