THE Royal National Life-boat Institution exhibited at the International Boat Show at Earl's Court, London, on 3rd-13th January, 1973, the first of a new type of life-boat. She was a Rother class boat (see photograph above), in direct line of descent from the highly successful Oakley 37-foot boats introduced in the late 1950s.

The main advances in the Rother class are the inclusion of radar and the replacement of the water ballast self-righting system by providing the self-righting potential entirely through the hull form. Pictures of the type during capsizing trials appeared in the January edition of THE LIFE-BOAT.

The work of the R.N.L.I, in general was shown pictorially at the show and there was a recruiting area for the Yachtsmen's Life-boat Supporters' Association.

The life-boat shown was donated by Major O. B. Gabriel, of Hove, and will be named the Osman Gabriel. She will take up station at Port Erin, Isle of Man, some time this year.

Mrs. O. B. Gabriel has herself given a 21-foot Atlantic inshore life-boat to the life-boat service,again one of the R.N.L.I.'s latest design of small rescue craft. This was represented on the stand by a model and action photographs. It was the first time that life-boats donated to the R.N.L.I.

by husband and wife had been featured at the Boat Show at the same time.

Captain Petersen and Mr. Rasmassen of the Danish Life-boat Institute presented a plaque to the R.N.L.I, during the period of the show.

The Danish Life-boat Institute is being amalgamated with the hydrographic department and the pilotage service to form one marine organisation in April, and Captain Petersen presented the plaque as a token of appreciation to the R.N.L.L for co-operation since 1852.

On the Fairey Marine stand at the Boat Show, where David Palengat's 31-foot Huntsman Double Century was exhibited, a raffle was held on behalf of the R.N.L.I. Selling tickets at5p a time, £338.70 was raised for the life-boat service.

The draw took place at the offices of the Luis Gordon Group on 30th January, the prizes being: 1st, three cases of Domecq Sherry, Air.

Dodd, Christchurch; 2nd, two cases, Mr.

Holland, London; 3rd, one case, Mr. Dallas, Hounslow..