Facts and Figures Provisional figures show that in 1986 lifeboats launched 3,150 times and saved 1,260 lives.

In 1985 lifeboats launched 3,899 times (an average of nearly 11 times a day) and saved 1,747 lives (an average of 5 people rescued each day).

Over 13 per cent of all services carried out by lifeboats in 1985 were in winds of force 5 or above.

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

There are 260 lifeboats on station and a further 92 in the RNLI relief fleet.

114,811 lives have been saved since 1824, when the RNLI was founded.

The net cost of running the RNLI in 1986 will be over £26 million.

Current costs of building lifeboats are as follows: 16ft D class inflatable £9,000 17ft 6in C class inflatable £11,250 21ft Atlantic rigid inflatable £35,000 47ft Tyne £537,000 52ft Arun £490,000 97.