WITH this number we greet a new readership. This consists of members of the newly formed Yachtsmen's Life-boat Supporters' Association to be known as the Y.L.A. The new Association was formally brought into being by Sir Alec Rose at the International Boat Show at Earls Court, London, on 2nd January, the launching ceremony being performed from the pool in the central hall in the presence of large numbers. Among the members enrolled within the first hour were some of the leading figures in the yachting world and other eminent public figures who delight in boating as a hobby. Sir Alan Herbert was one, Mr. Robin Aisher, a recent Olympic medallist, another. Enrolment continued at the R.N.L.I.

stand throughout the show, and one of the visitors to the stand who immediately joined the Y.L.A. was Mr. Edward Heath, M.P.

An article on the Y.L.A. appears on page 542 and from this it will be seen that members will regularly receive THE LIFE-BOAT, and it is intended in future numbers to add a special Y.L.A. section. This, it is hoped, will consist mainly of letters and suggestions from Y.L.A. members themselves. The present number includes a membership form, and we hope that those who have already expressed their approval of the aims of the association by becoming members will use these forms to enrol a friend or friends.

FINANCIAL BATTLE When he launched the Y.L.A., Sir Alec Rose said: 'The question which I think we should all now ask ourselves is whether boat owners are doing enough for the R.N.L.I. Some of course are, but it has to be admitted that a great many are not.

Now an opportunity is being presented to every man, woman and child who owns a boat or who takes pleasure in going out in boats to give to the Royal National Life-boat Institution the help it so badly needs in order to maintain the wonderful volunteer service it has always given.'1 The Y.L.A. is one of the most important of the new plans being put into practice for increasing the R.N.L.I.'s revenue in order that the financial battle may be won. That is has been and continues to be a battle can hardly be doubted.

At the beginning of the year 1968 the R.N.L.I. faced one of its greatest challenges.

In the preceding year there had been a deficit of more than £400,000—by far the largest deficit ever recorded, and it seemed at the time not unlikely that a comparable deficit might be incurred in 1968. In fact, the deficit was only £12,811.

This is still a far from negligible figure, but that it was far less than had at one time been foreseen is a tribute to the tremendous efforts made by the Institution's supporters, particularly its branches and guilds.

All contributions to the Y.L.A. will be credited to the appropriate branch or guild unless the donor specifies otherwise, and active promotion of the Y.L.A.

by the Institution's guilds and branches can do much to ensure that this year the deficit is turned into a surplus (see page 540).

RECORDS AGAIN GO In 1968 the number of launches on service was once again an all-time record.

This is a familiar story which has been repeated year after year, and one is inclined to wonder when, if ever, saturation point will be reached and the graph showing rescue calls will take a horizontal or even a downward trend. Last year there were no fewer than 2,290 calls, and for the first time more calls were made in the course of the year on IRBs than there were on conventional life-boats. The respective figures were 1,178 and 1,112. IRBs saved the lives of 506 people and conventional life-boats saved 487.In the course of last year not a single member of a crew of a life-boat or an inshore rescue boat lost his life on service, but there was a sad loss at Lyme Regis on 17th January, 1969, when Robert Jefford, a 25-year-old member of the IRB crew who had earlier distinguished himself by receiving the R.N.L.I.'s thanks on vellum, was drowned. He left a 20-year-old widow. A report on the Institution's inquiry into this incident will appear in the June number of THE LIFE-BOAT.

[FIBRE-GLASS HULL A new experimental boat which is at present undergoing trials may prove to be the forerunner, in certain respects, of some of the life-boats of the future.

The boat has a fibre-glass hull, and although not designed as a life-boat it incorporates in its superstructure and equipment some life-boat features. The hull is a standard commercial one, and the purpose of extensive trials now being conducted will be to test a standard fibre-glass hull under severe conditions in order to assess its possibilities for future use in life-boat construction. A technical description of the new boat appears on pages 545 and 570.

CHANGES IN IRELAND As a result of the comprehensive review of the R.N.L.I.'s future operational requirements, two life-boat stations in the Irish Republic are being closed. The stations are Fenit and Helvick Head. Detailed examination of all services by the life-boats of both stations over a dozen years, followed by on-the-spot consultations, indicated that there is no longer an operational justification for either of the life-boats.

The closing of a life-boat station is a sad affair for all concerned, for a great tradition of voluntary service is inevitably halted. At Fenit there has been a lifeboat station since 1879 and at Helvick Head since 1859. An article on the Helvick Head station appears on page 567 and is reproduced by courtesy of the Irish Times.

Concurrently with the decision to close these stations the Committee of Management decided that one of the new 48-ft. 6-in. steel life-boats now nearing completion would be stationed in the Irish Republic..