The RNLI's Open Days on 23 and 24 July were more popular than in any previous year, with more visitors, more displays and more things to see than ever before. With free access to two separate sites accurate estimates of the numbers attending are impossible - but a useful guide is the number of people who took the guided tour of the headquarters building, which was fully subscribed at 1,060.Space does not allow a full description of all the events, but among them were capsize and righting drills for inshore lifeboats, helicopter winching demonstrations, visits to the new Trent and Severn class lifeboats, tours of the operations and technical sections, displays on the work of all the support departments the workshops and of Cowes Inshore Lifeboat Centre, treasure hunts for the children, loading and unloading boats from the transport, hands-on navigation and communications demonstrations. There were even two D class naming ceremonies.

Many visitors travelled long distances to the event, and their interest and support gave great encouragement to the staff who had worked hard to prepare the event and who willingly gave up their Saturday tO man the various activities..