SEA Check under way The RNLI's Sea Safety team has been helping to educate sea users of all kinds since the initiative was first launched some four years ago, but it is now breaking new ground with its SEA Check scheme.

SEA Check (Safety Equipment Advisory Check) aims to help boat owners keep their boats safe by offering a free check of the equipment which they carry. A pilot scheme has been running on the stretch of coast between Poole and Lymington and, if all goes to plan, the scheme will be recommended for national coverage next year.

Boats meeting the relevant standards in the various categories are awarded Standard, Silver or Gold award stickers to display.

The SEA Check volunteers ail have considerable lifeboat or small boat experience and then have additional training by RNLI staff.

SEA Check Co-ordinator Ian Benham is pleased with the results so far. 'In the first two weeks we checked 30 boats,' he said, 'with another 30 waiting!' Yacht clubs, harbourmasters and associations of all kinds have welcomed the scheme and are keen to support it.

So far the indications are that boats which belong to some form of club or association are generally well equipped, but that many which are trailed down to the coast are much less so.

Offshore hits 20,000 The Southampton Boat Show last September saw the RNLI's Offshore membership scheme pass another milestone when member number 20,000 signed up.

Jason Heyes (right) is relatively new to boating and keeps his 25ft Fairlme Sunfury at Port Solent.

N E W S P O I NT So. we enter another new year. The impending start of a new millennium next January may tend to overshadow the celebrations this year to some degree, but no matter how important 2000 may be, it is 1999 that concerns the RNLI at the moment.

For, in addition to dealing with the ever-increasing number of calls on its services, making sure that it has the crews and equipment to cope with them and sufficient funds to work with, it also has the enjoyable task of celebrating its own notable anniversary.

It was 175 years ago this coming March that Sir William Hillary founded the organisation which soon became the RNLI, and in the serious world of lifeboats and lifesaving no one can begrudge the Institution a little celebration. Indeed a little self-congratulation might be allowed as in those 175 years the RNLI has progressed to become one of the most noted sea rescue services in the world.

Its international stature is reflected in the efforts that other lifeboat services are making to be represented at this year's International Lifeboat Conference, which is being held in Poole, with many bringing their own classes of lifeboats to take part in the grand flotilla and sail past in June.

This pre-millennium year sees other changes too. As reported in the previous issue of The Lifeboat Lt Cdr Brian Miles retired at the end of last year after 11 years as the RNLI's Director out of his total 34 years' service. Brian Miles led the lifeboat service through some momentous changes and triumphs, among them the successful change to an allfast fleet. During his long service he also experienced the sadder side of the lifeboat world, particularly the loss of friends and colleagues in the thankfully rare lifeboat disasters which occurred during those three decades.

The Institution's new Director, Andrew Freemantle, brings with him many years of experience in the world of emergency services and will, no doubt, also bring his own ideas and interpretations. He too will see triumphs, although we profoundly hope there will be little sadness.

It is in this way that the RNLI has managed to retain its unique character: 175 years of history; tradition by the bucketful; and the most up-to-date lifeboat fleet in the world! Anniversary news The RNLI's 175th Anniversary Roadshow takes to the road this year and will be visiting a variety of °Pular locations to sPreacl tne word- Details of the venues will be published when they are finalised.

Don't forget, copies of the RNLI's official 175th anniversary publication , 'Rain Later, Good - Illustrating the Shipping Forecast', are still available. The book by Peter Collyer takes some of the mystique out of the regular broadcasts with a series of delightful miniature paintings and idiosyncratic text, covering 31 sea areas and 13 coastal stations.

Rain Later, Good, priced at £27.50, is available from RNLI (Sales) on (01202) 669777, Thomas Reed Publications on (0181) 941 7878 and all good book shops, quoting ISBN 0 901281 75 1. For each copy sold, £2.50 goes to the RNLI.

RAIN events of saving lives at sea January to May 1 January New Year's Day Parade, London.

7 - 17 January Launch of Anniversary at London Boat Show.

4 March - RNLI IS 175 YEARS OLD TODAY! Anniversary flag to be flown and maroons fired from all 222 lifeboat stations. Lifeboats launched from selected stations. Birthday bashes (branches and guilds' special events) begin all over the country.

April (Easter Weekend) Launch of spectacular lifeboat flume ride at a theme park in the Midlands.

17-21 May Chelsea Flower Show, London.

First ever floral lifeboat on a slipway! Designed and planted by Gateshead Borough Council.

27 May AGM and Presentation of Awards, London Come see the show Readers who receive their copy of The Lifeboat in time to visit the London International Boat Show (8-17 January) will once again find an exciting RNLI stand at 60E.

This year visitors will see a display of crew members through the years, a huge video wall, model lifeboats, a representation of a lifeboat wheelhouse plus the usual souvenir sales outlet and membership recruitment.

At the time of going to press the design was still being finalised but the illustration gives a good impression of what the stand will look like.

Howay the Smugglers! The Cromer Smugglers, a group of North Norfolk singing fundraisers, launched themselves on a weekend of celebration in October.

The group travelled to Tynemouth to witness the naming and dedication of the D class lifeboat The Cromer Smuggler for which they raised the cash. It was a proud moment for the Smugglers and their founder, Cromer lifeboat mechanic Paul Wegg - it had been his ambition since forming the group in 1993 to have the name celebrated in the form of a lifeboat.

The lifeboat was handed over to Mrs Alison Saunders of the RNLI's Committee of Management and, following the naming performed by Cromer town council chairman, Mr Keith Johnson, the lifeboat was handed into the care of David Stonehouse, Tynemouth station secretary.

Celebrations continued well in to the night as the Smugglers gave a performance to raise funds for the local branch.

Double ceremony at Tighnabruaich After weeks of torrential rain it seemed almost a miracle that the sun was shining on 8 August for the naming ceremony of Tighnabruaich's new Atlantic 75. Mrs Preston, who with her husband Alec had given the boat, travelled up from Lancashire to name the lifeboat Alec and Maimie Preston.

Mr Cubie, a vice convener of the Scottish Lifeboat Council, accepted the boat on behalf of the RNLI and handed her into the care of Ronnie Irvine, the station's honorary secretary.

A service of dedication followed and Andy Sim, former station secretary, cut the tape to open the new boathouse.

Mrs Preston christened the lifeboat with a good splash of whisky and the boat was launched for a mock rescue before meeting the paddle steamer Waverley.

Following a buffet, Mrs Preston took a trip around the bay in the lifeboat but was happy to travel at something less than 32 knots! Lifeboat crew pick the winning few Crew members from Calshot, Cromer and Ballyglass drew the winning tickets for the RNLI's 83rd lottery on 30 October.

The lottery raised £192.000 and first prize of £2,000 was won by Mr Devney of Crewkerne.

The other cash prize winners were: £1,000 Mrs R Williams, Stafford £500 Mr G Prin. Maidstone £250 Mr R Bradbury, London £100 Mr P Coatesworth, Buckingham; Mr Whetton, Bingley; Mr B Williams, Cheshire; Mr H B J Gilmartin, Croydon; Mrs A M Powles, Harpenden.

New lifeboat for Newbiggin A warm and sunny day greeted the 500 guests who attended the naming ceremony of Newbiggin's new Atlantic 75 lifeboat on 22 August at the station's newly refurbished boathouse.

The funding of this lifeboat was thanks to the continued support and fundraising activities of the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA) and Frizzell Financial Services.

Andrew Noble, chairman of the Liverpool Victoria group, handed the lifeboat over to the RNLI which was accepted by Kieran Nash, divisional inspector of lifeboats for the North. Stan Green, Newbiggin station secretary, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the station and a service of dedication followed.

John Herington, chairman of the CSMA, then named the lifeboat CSMA 75th Anniversary.

Richard Newton Picture this! Supporters have a chance to win another valuable prize in the Spring lifeboat lottery.

First prize is a fantastic visual equipment package including a camcorder and an SLR camera. Also included is the latest APS camera great for quick snapshots - an underwater camera and a pair of image stabilising binoculars.

Runner-up prizes include cash ranging from £1,000 to £250 and a further 12 camera kits. All the visual equipment has been kindly donated by Canon. You can win any of these great prizes for as little as 50p, while supporting the lifeboat service.

Remember to return your tickets to Rebekah Rose at RNLI HQ before 16 April. If you would like more tickets, or do not receive any tickets and would like to, please ring Rebekah on (01202) 6631219.

New D class named at Moelfre Crowds flocked to Moelfre lifeboat station on 29 August to witness the naming and dedication of the station's new D class lifeboat.

The weather was perfect for the ceremony for the inshore lifeboat, which was donated by an anonymous lady from East Anglia in memory of her late husband.

Proceedings were opened by Dr. Owen Jones, chairman of Moelfre lifeboat station branch and Andrew Clift, divisional inspector of lifeboats for the West, described the lifeboat.

Sue Hennessy, personal donations manager representing the donor, handed the lifeboat into the care of Moelfre station and its honorary secretary, Evan Jones.

Following a service of dedication conducted by Reverend Dr. Graham Lovelock and Reverend Hugh John Hughes, Claudine Treweek, secretary of the station's sales outlet, named the lifeboat Kingsand.

Diary date - AGM and APA The RNLI's 1999 Annual General Meeting and Presentation of Awards will take place on Thursday 27 May at 1130 and 1430 respectively.

Both meetings will be held in the Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, London and the name of the guest speaker will be announced as soon as it is known.

Governors will receive an application form with this issue of The Lifeboat. If supporters would like tickets to the APA they should contact the AGM office at RNLI headquarters before the end of March.

Berkhamstead award On 14 October, Sarah Halls, Eastern regional manager, presented the Berkhamstead branch with the ICFM Professional Fundraising Award.

The branch's Golden Jubilee appeal f o ra D class lifeboat for Happisburgh, which raised £20,000, won the category of best regional/local fundraising.

Winning design The Gecko Marine safety helmet, codeveloped and used by the RNLI, was chosen as the winner of this years 'Winning by design' awards.

As well as being the overall winner of the West Country awards, the BSI approved helmet came first in the Product design category.

Technicoloured lifeboat taxi Londoners were the first to see the RNLI's colourful '175' vehicles when they made their debut appearance in the Lord Mayor's Show on 14 November.

The two main exhibits, a London taxi resplendent in lifeboat livery and a 40ft road trailer made to look like a Severn class lifeboat, will be used to help raise awareness of the lifeboat service during the 175th anniversary celebrations this year.

Storm Force mascot, Stormy Stan, also made a special appearance in the parade.

Lifeboats inland In October, RNLI lifeboats were sent by road to help people trapped by floods in the Midlands.

Three D class Iffeboats were operating in Hereford from Friday 23 October, involved with evacuating elderly and disabled people from their residential homes. The inshore lifeboats returned to Poole when the floods began to recede on the Sunday - only to return on the Tuesday when the rains continued. A further three lifeboats were sent out to assist on 30 October.

Crew members from West Kirby, Porthcawl, and Penarth gave up their own time, away from their jobs, to man the lifeboats along with Land Rover drivers and West Kirby's station secretary.

The RAF drops in… Cromer lifeboat got a helping hand frpm the skies on 7 September as one of the final pieces of the new station was airlifted in by RAF Chinook helicopter.

The three tonne winch, used for recovering the lifeboat back up its slipway, was too heavy to be delivered via Cromer pier so RAF Odiharn, 7 Squadron delivered it directly outside the new building.

In addition, members of the public were fortunate enough to witness a thrilling display of flying skills during an exercise with the lifeboat. The exercise included the transfer of the assistant Coxswain to the stern of the lifeboat - the first time that such a live exercise has been completed with a Chinook helicopter on the East coast.

Caught in the web.

The World Wide Web and the Internet in general are said to be the fastest growing phenomena ever, and no-one who is involved with them would begin to doubt it.

The RNLI has had its own web site for some years now, and there are plans afoot to update it further as interest continues to grow.

Currently the site's content includes the general organisation of the RNLI, the classes of lifeboats and much of the information literature which is available in paper form.

The latest addition to the pages available on the existing site reflect the RNLI's growing role in the prevention of accidents at sea. The considerably revamped Sea Safety site claims to be the first website in Europe to have interactive training sections and an interactive quiz on boating and beach safety.

It also contains useful links to other organisations and displays updated statistics that relate to lifeboat-attended incidents.

The full range of Sea Safety literature is available for downloading and excerpts from the Sea Safety videos can be viewed on screen.

RNLI Official Homepage www.rnli.orQ.ukSeaSafetywww.seasafety.or9.uk Useful RNLI email addresses General information: [email protected] Sea Safety: [email protected] Membership enquiries: [email protected] The Lifeboat (editorial): [email protected] Appeal update AL 1 2, This Autumn the Crew Training Appeal celebrated reaching the halfway point towards its target of C5m. Exactly one year after the appeal was launched at the Bank of England, Viscount Younger, chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland, presented Tracey Edwards and Lady Cooksey, appeal chairman, with a cheque for €150,000 which saw the appeal total officially surpass £2.5m. This contribution was raised through the RNLI Affinity Mastercard scheme.

Other ways in which the money has been raised include: Lawyers for lifeboats, a syndicate of L BllI H sailing barristers; a reception held on board the tall ship Matthew, at the International Festival of the Sea; and through the kind help of the appeal's patrons, who now number 85 and continue to help with their influence and connections.

In 1999 the RNLI will spend the equivalent of £4,000 at each station plus general costs. The appeal has successfully funded 80 stations so far, and another 30 have some funding or are under way However the appeal still needs an awful lot of help to reach its target and if you have any ideas please do not hesitate to contact: Julian Barrel!, Crew Training Appeal, RNLI Greater London office, 20 Buckingham Street, London WC2N 6EF. Tel (0171) 839 3369.

A greeting...

From the Director, Andrew Freemantle To say that Brian Miles will be a hard act to follow is something of an understatement, Brian's commitment to, and knowledge of, the Institution is an example to us all and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking him for his kindness and patience during my take-over period.

I had previously thought a three month hand-over would be too long - 1 now realise that it was barely enough to gain a proper insight into the culture, values and complexities of the RNLI.

The Institution is in good shape. Having spent over 26 years in the Forces followed by eight years running a national emergency service, I can certainly vouch for the high esteem in which the RNLI is held by all those in uniform.

The Institution recently embarked on a dynamic strategic plan to cover the next five years. This plan builds on the bold decision made some years ago to improve lifeboat cover by introducing 25-knot Severn and Trent lifeboats with the strategic target by the Year 2000 of reaching: • 95% of casualties inside territorial waters within 30 minutes of launch, and • virtually any point out to 50 miles off the coast within two and a half hours of launch in fair weather Achieved The fact that these targets will be achieved is no mean feat and it will involve the deployment of 45 Severns and Trents (indeed, during 1998. five Severns and two Trents were deployed) and Atlantic 75s to at least half our Atlantic stations.

Following the completion of a study into Lifeboats Beyond 2000, a contract has just been awarded for a prototype Fast Slipway Boat (FSB2) to enter service in 2003, Other developments to meet future demands on the Service, involve feasibility studies on three other new types of lifeboats - a Fast Inshore Boat (FlB1) to enter service in 2000; a new inshore boat (I Bl) to enter service in 2001 and a Fast Response Boat (FRB1) to enter service in 2002.

These and many other developments (for example, rna- jor improvements to our shoreworks) have only been possible because of the RNLl's current sound financial position. This situation has also allowed our expansion into more preventative action in the form of a range of sea safety initiatives in partnership with other agencies and organisations sharing the common aim of safety at sea.

At the forefront of these is the SEA Check scheme recently piloted at selected locations along the south coast.

Such has been the success of this initiative that we now intend to extend it around the coast of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The introduction of faster, more complex, allweather lifeboats means that our volunteer crews need to be even better trained in the future than they have been in the past. With this in mind a thorough review of operational training needs was conducted last year.

The Review concluded that competency based training (CBT) should be introduced as soon as possible to establish externally recognised and accredited qualifications for lifeboat crew members. Not only will this greatly enhance the professional standing of lifeboat crews in the maritime environment but it will provide transferable skills.

Views on this recommendation were sought from operational crews at a series of coastal conferences run by the Chief of Operations and I am pleased to report there was widespread support for the idea. To provide further impetus to this initiative a third Inspector of Lifeboats will shortly be recruited in each lifeboat Division, specifically to manage the introduction of competency based training.

Opportunities I count myself as very fortunate to have joined the RNLI on the eve of its 175th anniversary.

The calendar of events already published and many others that are planned will provide a wide range of excellent opportunities to raise public awareness of the RNLI throughout a very special year.

I, of course, look forward very much to providing whatever support I can to all the hard work that has already been done. 1 write this short submission before I have actually taken over as Director, and I know that I still have a very steep learning curve ahead.

However, what shines like a beacon wherever I have been so far, whether it be on the coast, fundraising or at our Poole headquarters, is the enormous amount of dedication, pride and determination that exists throughout the Institution to which very much look forward to being of service.

May I take this first opportunity of thanking all of our supporters for everything they do for our wonderful Institution and wishing you on behalf of everyone in Poole, all the very best of health and good fortune in the new year.

The Institution has recently embarked on a dynamic strategic plan to improve lifeboat cover by introducing 25-knot Severn and Trent lifeboats and a farewell I am writing these few words during the final few weeks before my retirement as Director. By the time they are read Andrew Freemantle will have succeeded me and I know he will do an outstanding job. I have greatly enjoyed his company during our hand-over programme and I know how much he is looking forward to this new challenge and to meeting as many of our supporters as possible in the future.

I can only confirm once more that it has been a tremendous privilege to serve the RNLI for over 34 years including my final 11 years as Director. They have been years of continuing and far reaching change and development in so many areas of our activities. I have seen first hand the transition from the conventional lifeboat era to the faster and more complex all weather and inshore lifeboats of the present fleet. This has placed ever increasing demands on our crews in terms of commitmem to training both ashore and afloat, demands that have been met with a dedication and enthusiasm which are an inspiration for us all.

Calls on lifeboats have doubled in the last 10 years alone, which again reminds us of the commitment placed on our crews which must never be taken for granted. Our crews would however be the first to confirm how they in their turn derive so much inspiration from the knowledge that it is thanks 10 the efforts of so many of our supporters that the RNLI can proudly continue to declare that it is supported entirely by voluntary contributions.

Much progress may have been made in recent years, however there are still many exciting challenges for the future. The new fast slipway boat.

Lifeboats Beyond 2000, the ever-burgeoning sea safety initiative including the development of the new SEA Check scheme which has got off lo such a good start during this past year. The development of competence based training forour crews and perhaps the opportunity to utilise our experience in the sea safety area and offer training and sea related education to a wider audience.

Finally I need far more space than the editor is prepared to allot me to say 'thank you' to so many people who have been friends and colleagues over the past 34 years. Lifeboat crews, their families, those involved with lifeboat branches and guilds, members of the Committee of Management, my colleagues on the staff, both in head office and throughout the Institution who have always given me unstinting support, and last but certainly not least so many friends from other lifeboat organisations all around the world.

1 have been particularly proud that our links with our friends and colleagues overseas have grown much closer in the recent past, and while it is good to know thai our knowledge and experience can be helpful to our colleagues overseas, let me emphasise that we in our turn have over the years learnt much in return.

• It has been a particular privilege during my final year to have been the guest of both our counterparts in Iceland and in Sumner. New Zealand, the latter celebrating the first centenary of a lifeboat service in the southern hemisphere. Finally I must also thank my wife Anne for her unstinting support over the years and for her own commitment to the RNLI, As I approach my retirement I remain as proud of the RNLI as I have ever been. We are all involved in providing a round the clock sea rescue service to the highest possible standards, standards which are greatly admired all around the world. The Institution must be managed in a businesslike and cost effective way and again thanks are due to so many people who have helped us introduce so many improvements in these areas in past years.

At the end of it all however we must never forget that it is the voluntary commitment of so many people which makes the RNLI such a special institution.

I have always felt that the RNLI must essentially be a great family organisation and I believe that this is as true today as it ever was. Once again my thanks to you all and the best of luck to the institution and everyone involved / /y -fitwith it in the future..