Did you know that there are now just over 20,000 members of Storm Force, the RNLI's membership club for young people? As well as getting a pack full of all sons of goodies and an official membership card, Storm Force members also receive their own exclusive quartely magazine which is packed full of exciting stories, puzzles and competitions.

To give you a flavour of the magazine (which is often secretly read by many mums and dads!) we will be occasionally featuring some of the recent news and articles in forthcoming issues of The Lifeboat - starting this issue… If you know anyone who is under 16 and would like to come aboard contact the address below.} Storm Force membership costs just a year and helps to save lives at sea.

For further information contact: Storm Force HQ, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset. BH15 1HZ * • Special feature! Wherever you go by the sea, remember that the water is very powerful and can easily hurt you. It is important that you understand the dangers there.

TIDES you have been to-the seaside you will have noticed that the sea moves regularly in over shore and then out again. This movement called the tide. The level of the water is very high twice a day (HK3H TIDE) and very low twice a day (LOW TIDE). But what makes the water rise and fall? Tides are caused by the pull (force) of gravity of the Moon and the Sun. As the Moon travels around the Earth, its force of gravity pulls the water nearest to it out in a bulge. The spinning of the Earth causes another bulge the other side. These bulges make high tides, with low tides in between.

There is also a pull from the Sun, but it is weaker than the Moon's because the Sun is farther away. However, when the Sun and Moon line the pull from the two together makes an even bigger bulge. This produces very high tides, and very low tides in between called SPRING tides.When you see a Full Moon or a New Moon in the sky, this is when there will be Spring tides. -y * i When the Moon and Sun are at right angles to each other the pull is not so great, so there is not such a high tide. This is called a Neap tide.

Tide times aflPfcktes high tide is at six o'clock in the morning, the level of water will gradually drop until low tide about twelve noon. It will then rise steadily again to the next high tide at six in the evening. However, the time of each high or tide is different every day. The Sun, Moon and Earth are continually moving and this causes changes in the time and the height of tides each day. Although you could roughly work out the times qf high and low water, a of Tide Tables will give you exact times and heights for each area along the coast.

Check yours and don't get cut off! WAVES When you blow across a bowl of water, your breath ruffles the surface into little waves.

The same thing happens when the wind blows across the sea. It pushes and drags against the surface of the sea, producing ripples and form waves. Waves can travel huge distances, called the fetch.

How waves move " i* Waves travel across the surface of the sea.

You might have watched them from the seashore or from a boat. But did you know that the water itself does not travel along? If you see a bird (like Eric!) bobbing up and down on the sea. the water just goes up and down as the waves pass through it. Each time a wave passes, the water actually moves in circles. The circles are biggest near the surface and they get smaller deeper down. If you were in a submarine 100m down you wouldn't feel the waves even in the most severe storm.

Breaking waves When waves approach the shore, they get taller and closer together. The bottom of each wave drags against the seabed and slows down, but the top of the wave keeps moving.

Eventually, the surface topples over and crashes onto the beach. A breaking wave can 'dump', 'spill' or 'surge' onto the shore depending on the steepness of the underwater slope.

Spilling Wave For swimmers, the types of waves can be very important. Waves can be fun - Spilling waves have crests of surf tumbling down the front - great for body surfers, swimmers and board riders - they can also be dangerous.

Dumping Dumping waves break with a huge force and can throw a swimmer to the bottom and drag them out to sea as it rushes back out.

Surging Wwe Surging waves are found on a very steep beach. They are very powerful and can knock you off your feet or even pluck you from the shoreline.

'CHECK IT OUT - WATCH THE WAVES!' CURRENTS Sea currents are caused by tides and wine There are currents both at the surface and the deep oceans. If you look at what has been washed up on a beach, you may find other things from other countries that have been carried there by currents.

- J PVI A rip current is a very dangerous current seen at some beaches. It is caused by water coming into the beach, making channels in the sand, before running out to sea. These direct the waves' energy into one DANGER Strong Current place and the power of the water running back out again may be too strong, for evei the best swimmer. A rip current can often identified by discoloured water, with brown foam on the surface beyond the breaking 'waves, or by debris floating back to sea the current. Also, where there is surf, a rip current will make the waves smaller.

WINDS Onshore winds blow from the sea onto th shore. They can make the waves so mucf more powerful that they become dangerot Offshore winds blow from the shore out sea. Although the water may be calm clos in, it may be rougher farther out and the can blow a windsurfer, or inflatable far oul sea.

Check to see if there is an onshore or offshore wind by looking at which way any flags are flying, or you can hold something up to be blown by the wind such as a handkerchief or T-shirt.

AND DON'T FORGET - Spot the Dangers Take Safety Advice Don't go Alone Learn How to Help Sponsored By ffil CREWSAVE.