Lifeboat station histories The Story of the Littlehampton lifeboats.

(updated 2nd edition) by Jeff Morris published by the author This volume is an updated second edition of one of a popular series of booklets produced by the honorary archivist of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society in his normal, comprehensive format.

This new edition brings the history of the lifeboats stationed at Littlehampton right up to date, and includes accounts of past and present rescues with plenty of detail for the interested reader.

As usual this vofume is illustrated with modern and contemporary photographs and will provide a valuable record to anyone with an interest in the area and the lifeboats stationed at Littlehampton.

The book is available from Paul Nash, c/o The Harbour Office, Pier Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5LR for £3.00 including p&p.

The Margate R.N.L.I. Station And Its Lifeboats From 1860 by A.P.Walters published by the author This 340 page-plus, hardback book by the honorary archivist of Margate lifeboat station provides an insight into the history of the station's lifeboats; including past history of all of the lifeboats stationed at Margate, records of proceedings and service medals and a account of lifeboat services ranging from 1860 to 1996.

The book provides a detailed and interesting account of lifeboat activity at Margate and is illustrated with con- ATllMirre TO THE H.YMOUTH LIFEBOATS temporary photographs which provide the reader with a valuable record of the station and its work. It also provides a valuable funding tool, as all profits from the sale of the book will go to the R.N.LI.

This book is available from A .P. Walters, honorary archivist Margate Lifeboat, 46 The Ridings, Cliftonvrlle, Margate, Kent, CT9 3EJ at £15.00 plus £2.00 p&p.

A Tribute To The Plymouth Lifeboats By Arthur L Clamp published by the author Throughout this publication interesting photographs from both past and present have been incorporated with detailed accounts recalling the many lifeboats that have served at Plymouth, and their crews who have gallantly responded to those in distress on the sea. Rescues which made headlines in newspapers and the Bronze Medal that was awarded to John Dare in 1974 come in for particular attention.

A well documented book, which will be of great interest to the general reader and visitors to the city of Plymouth.

This book is availablef rom Arthur. L. Clamp, Lower Standary, 203 Elburton Road, Plymstock, Plymouth Devon, PL9 8HX (£4.50 including p&p). The volume should also be available in Plymouth bookshops.

the RNLI .

:ea ISE:. Standard Bool- r and put enable any good The RNLI's latest video was released in January this year and proved a great hit at its first public showing at the London Boat Show.

John McCarthy gave a great deal of his time to narrate 'Lifeboats 2000' and meets and talks to survivors who never dreamed they would need the services of a lifeboat.

During the film John's travels take him the length and breadth of the UK and the Republic of Ireland - to Brighton, Oban, Walton and Frinton.StHelier, MoelfreandCastletownbere lifeboat stations and also the lifeboat gallery at the Chatham Historic Dockyard.

To bring some of the more difficult services to life re-edited sections of the dramataic reconstructions staged by the BBC's '999' programmes have been used, together with actual film from real-life services.

Lifeboats 2000 - The story of today's RNLI Running time: 30 minutes, approx.

Available from: The Video Factory, Grove House, Milburn Road, Bournemouth BH4 9HJ Price: £8 including p&p.

Make cheques payable to: 'RNLI Enterprises Ltd' »d from page 28 For the yachtsman Mayday! by Joachim Schult published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £12.99 ISBN 0-7136-4642-X It may be a subject that most y a c h t s m e n would prefernot to think too much about, but reading the accounts of others who have had to put out the dreaded 'Mayday' call makes interesting and valuable, if sobering, reading.

In this volume Joachim Schult examines many of the reasons for yachts getting into distress, breaking them down into basic categories such as man overboard, grounding and sinking. He goes on to look at the problems involved in abandoning the yacht and also the actions of rescuers. Chapters on salvage and stories from survivors round-off the book.

As the book illustrates, you don't have to be making long passages or crossing oceans to get into trouble, and there is much to be learned from almost every incident examined in this valuable book.

Rescue from Beyond the Roaring Forties by Raphael Dinelli published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £14.99 ISBN 0-7136-4882-1 It may well have been well outside the range of even the latest RNLI lifeboat, but the rescue of Frenchman Raphael Dinelli by fellow yachtsman Pete Goss during the 1996 Vendee Globe singlehanded roundthe- world race makes fascinating reading for anyone involved with the sea.

Raphael recounts his struggle to turn his dream into reality, the race itself and then the circumstances which lead to his rescue.

Having taken to a liferaft in the depths of the Southern Ocean, he had to wait while Pete Goss beat back to windward for several hundred miles towards him in extreme weather-an incredible achievement which won the English sailor the Legion d'Honneur, one of France's highest awards..