Facts and Figures In 1985 the RNLI's lifeboats launched 3,864 times (an average of ten times each day) and saved 1,742 lives (an average of over 4 people rescued each day). Note to those entering Shoreline competition: the 1985 lives saved figure stood at 1,637 when the competition form went to press. It has since been up-dated to 1,742 but the earlier figure should be taken as correct for the purposes of the competition.

Over 46 per cent of all services carried out by lifeboats in 1985 were in winds of force 5 or above.

Thirty-one per cent of all services took place in darkness.

Sixty-one per cent of all services were to pleasure craft.

There are 257 lifeboats on station and a further 92 in the RNLI relief fleet.

113,551 lives have been saved since 1824, when the RNLI was founded.

The net cost of running the RNLI in 1986 will be over £23 million.

Current costs of building lifeboats are as follows: 16ft D class inflatable £8,250 17ft 6in C class inflatable £10,500 21ft Atlantic rigid inflatable £31,000 47ft Tyne £450,000 52ft Arun £415,000.