Local boat How does one 'sell' the lifeboat service? Our branch committee at Barrow-in-Furness believes that where you have a comparatively isolated community and a lifeboat station as well, you 'localise' the boat. There must be something in the philosophy for we have now closed the appeal launched to pay for new engines, coxswainoperated controls, a new echo sounder, a DF loop and a survey and refit for the Barrow boat Herbert Leigh.

It all began when the committee learned that inflation had so hit the Institution that the new building programme had been set back. It decided that the situation might be helped if Barrow's 46' 9" Watson lifeboat could be given life beyond her anticipated replacement date of 1980. Donated to the RNLI in 1951 Herbert Leigh has be3n at Barrow ever since and is so much thought of by her crew and the branch that it was felt her life was worth prolonging.

The branch committee actually accepted a friendly challenge that it would not raise the cash. We can now look back on a'fantastic 12 months' in which we have raised more than £23,000 and met the cost of all the work. Des Newton, a native of Barrow, and his wife Dot, interested fellow entertainers on the Merseyside circuit and raised almost £1,000. The Keswick-Barrow charity walk donated £250, and individuals and organisations gave money freely. Two big legacies helped.

The secret of success? Contacts, ideas, publicity, public interest and 'hard graft'. Added to that we had the incentive of a lifeboat and a seaside community which knows what the RNLI is all about.—T. CLARK, vicechairman Barrow station branch, 14 Durham Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

A fantastic year, indeed, with a fantastic result—THE EDITOR.

Southend Flag Day I am sure there are Shoreline members in the Leigh, Westcliff or Southend areas who would like to help the branch during flag week but do not know whom to approach. However, if theywould like to phone me on Southend 712104 or call and see me, any offer of help no matter how small would be most welcome and we shall be most happy to meet them. Our flag day this year will be on June 17.—LES NORTON, vice-chairman, appeals committee, Southend-on-Sea branch, 83 Wellington Avenue, Westcliffon- Sea, Essex.

Boat handling in storm force winds From comment received on the discussion published in the winter issue: . . . I learned more about the work of rescue from this article than in all the years which went before.—w. K.

MACKENZIE, Leamington Spa.

. . . it will have given a splendid insight into the work to a landsman, and to a yachtsman, like myself, it is a fascinating study of the relationship between boat and skipper.—BARRY CRAWSHAW, Carnoustie.

. . . It is worthy of becoming compulsory reading for all yachtsmen. . . .

Thank God, I have never experienced, and fervently hope I never shall, conditions such as these great men speak of in such matter of fact terms.—w.

OREQGOR, Ramble..