A new boat on the coastA new lifeboat will enter the RNLI's fleet of lifeboats in 2003. The untrained eye may not be able to spot any difference between the new boat and the one it will replace, but the changes that have been made will represent several years of hard work by a team of designers, engineers, boat builders and RNLI operational staff and crew members.

The new boat is a development of the muchloved D class inshore lifeboat, which has been helping to rescue people at sea with the RNLI for 40 years. Specially designed for rescues in shallow waters and close to rocky shorelines, the D class lifeboat has been involved in literally thousands of rescues in that time.

Although the new boat, known during the project as Inshore Boat 1 (IB1), looks very similar to the current D class - it is the same shape, size, weight and colour- underneath, it is a very different craft. Built of an entirely new material and featuring a more powerful outboard engine, IB1 will be faster and stronger than the current boat. The equipment, including flares and first aid kit, will be stored in a newly designed equipment pod and the global satellite positioning (GPS) technology used on the Atlantic lifeboats will also be a feature.

The design of the D class was last changed in the mid-1980s so, with all the advances in technology since then, it was time to assess whether it was still the best boat for the job. To do this properly the RNLI had to involve lifeboat crews from some of the 100 or more lifeboat stations that currently use D class lifeboats to get their opinions on what they liked and disliked about this and other commercial boats of a similar size. Many of these thoughts were then fed into the design of IB1.

Firstly, one boat was built as a prototype to be tested by the project team at the RNLI's Inshore Lifeboat Centre on the Isle of Wight. Suggestions from these trials were then fed into the design of the next version of IB1, the preproduction boat.

There is a big difference in sea conditions between some of the RNLI's D class lifeboat stations, from the sheltered but fast flowing waters of the River Thames to the heavy surf found at Bude in North Cornwall. The D class is expected to operate well in each of these conditions. So it was decided to build four pre-production boats, for trials around the coast, to see if the new boat was up to the job.

The four pre-production boats were built and equipped as if they were operational lifeboats and trialled at a total of 20 stations during a four-month evaluation period. As well as being used for exercises they were also involved in real life rescues, from helping people cut off by the tide to searching for swimming dogs.

All in all, the feedback received from the 230 plus crew members involved was extremely positive. It will now be used by the project team to build the version that will be seen around the coast in 2003, coping better than ever with the incredibly diverse range of tasks that the D class inshore lifeboat is expected to perform.Speed (knots) Manoeuvring Structure Boat fabric Navigation Anchor system Equipment stowage Engine start/restart Current boat 18-20 Marine plywood Hypalon coated nylon Chart, compass and hand-held GPS Distributed around boat Manual IB1 25 Better acceleration and response Fibre reinforced composite Hypalon coated polyester Fixed installation chart plotter/GPS Ready rigged Dedicated stowage area Electric with manual backup Benefit Faster response Faster and safer progress in a range of conditions Greater strength and lower maintenance Holds shape better, giving a more consistent boat shape and better performance Better navigation Easier deployment Keeps equipment dry and frees space elsewhere Faster restart following capsizeNational navigation honourDavid Manners. Lyme Regis station secretary, has been elected to the Council of the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) only eight years after being accepted as a member. He was elected an Associate Fellow earlier this year.

The Council is the decision-making committee of the RIN, which is concerned with all aspects of navigation ranging from bird navigation to satellite navigation systems. It plays a pivotal role in research and frequently hosts international conferences on the latest navigational developments and learned historical writings.

David, who is a maths teacher by day, is currently investigating how shore-based radar may assist in search and rescue operations with lifeboats and helicopters. The RIN is internationally recognised as being at the forefront of all navigational issues,' he said. 'To be elected as a representative of such a worthy body is one of the greatest honours ever bestowed upon me.' When he was appointed station secretary at Lyme Regis in 2000, David was one of the youngest people ever to have been given the role.

Prior to that he was deputy launching authority from 1994.Stop Press! Annual General Meeting and Presentation of Awards The RNLI's AGM and awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, 22 May 2003. The AGM will start at 11.30am, with the awards ceremony at 2.30pm. Both events will be held at the Barbican Hall in London. RNLI Governors should have received an application form with this issue of the Lifeboat. Any queries should be addressed to Shelley Tilley, the public exhibitions manager, on 01202 663043 or email [email protected].

The Lifeboat on audio tape The Lifeboat is also available on audio tape, in conjunction with Talking Newspapers Ltd. The audio tape version is free, although recipients may wish to make a small donation to cover the additional costs involved, To receive the Lifeboat on a C90 audio tape please write to: The Editor, the Lifeboat, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ Email: [email protected] braveryRNLI lifeboatmen and lifeguards have been recognised in several major awards in recent months.

Helmsman Nick Beale has been awarded the Lady Swaythling Trophy by the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society for an outstanding feat of seamanship. The Society chose Nick, from Porthcawl lifeboat station, for 'outstanding seamanship when rescuing a fisherman washed off the pier on 2 February 2002, during a violent storm. Conditions were well in excess of the normal operational limits of the Atlantic 75 lifeboat.' He was awarded the RNLI Bronze medal for the rescue (see the Lifeboat. Summer 2002, page 18 for a full account of the rescue).

Nick has been a crew member since 1990.

He is a carpenter by trade, although he was formerly a professional fisherman, and owns a fish and chip shop. He received his award in October at a ceremony chaired by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Julian Oswald GCB QBE, President of the Society.

Mark Johnston, of Newquay, became the first RNLI lifeguard to receive national recognition when he was honoured at the Vodaphone Life Savers Awards in November for his part in saving a man from drowning. Mark received his award at a gala luncheon at the Savoy Hotel where he was brought together on stage with Neil Parsley, the man whose life he saved, but had not seen since the rescue, for an emotional reunion. Earlier both paid a visit to Downing Street where Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed them and paid tribute to Mark's courage.

For this rescue, Mark became the first RNLI lifeguard to receive a Thanks on Vellum from the Institution (see the Lifeboat, Spring 2002, page 14 for a full account of the rescue).

Nick Beale, winner of the Lady Swaythling Trophy, was a runner-up in these awards.

Filey coxswain Malcolm Johnson and crew member Neil Cammish were awarded the Servicemark Yorkshire and Number 2002 award for the Emergency Services for the rescue of a lone sailor (see the Lifeboat, Spring 2002, page 20 for a full account of the rescue). The awards, supported by Yorkshire Forward, aim to recognise good customer service and people who go that 'extra mile' in their job. The Emergency Services award is open to those working in the police, fire, lifeboat and ambulance services and to people working in the security services.Aberdeen celebrates bicentenaryA highly successful series of special events in August marked Aberdeen lifeboat station's bicentenary. The station first opened in 1802. although it did not become part of the RNLI until 1925.

Festivities started with a formal civic reception and dinner followed the next evening by entertainments for those involved in the programme. The annual crew ceilidh was held on 24 August. The celebrations culminated on Sunday 25 August with a quayside service, attended by a large crowd, and the station's open day.

Watermark's the best Watermark, the RNLI's gift catalogue, has been named the best charity catalogue available. It scooped top prize at a gala awards evening in London during November. The ECMOD (European Catalogue and Mail Order) Industry Awards honour achievement and excellence in the catalogue and home shopping sector. Comedian Barry Cryer hosted the awards evening at Wembley in London as well as presenting the awards.

There were more than 180 entries in the ECMOD 2002 Awards and they were fiercely contested. Judges included independent experts from the UK and USA. Jayne George, managing director (sales), and Amanda Mitchell, customer services and marketing manager, collected the prestigious award on behalf of the RNLI Sales Company, which runs the successful Watermark catalogue. All profits from the sales of gifts in the catalogue are donated to the RNLI annually.

The latest edition of the catalogue is enclosed in this copy of the Lifeboat or alternatively, to request another copy, call 0870 600 1824 or visit the website www.rnlishop.org.uk (see story below).

Water shopping online RNLI shopping is just a few mouse clicks away. Watermark, the RNLI's online shop, has launched a new and improved website. The redesigned shopping site is packed with an exciting range of specially selected, high-quality gifts and is more user-friendly than ever before - making it a breeze for shoppers to search and buy gifts and presents from the comfort of their own homes.

Products are arranged in easy-to-navigate categories and include fun and handy items for the home and garden, RNLI branded clothing and many gifts with a nautical flavour. Shoppers can be assured that all transactions are on a secure site and profits go directly to the vital lifesaving work of the volunteer lifeboat crews. Get shopping online now by visiting www.rnlishop.org.uk Rhyl's 150th anniversary Rhyl lifeboat station celebrated its 150th anniversary in some style, as it was also the handing over and official opening of the new lifeboat station. HRH The Duke of Kent, RNLI President, attended the festivities, along with Chairman Peter Nicholson. The Duke presented the station with an anniversary vellum, performed the official opening of the new boathouse and also presented a bar to gold badge award to Beryl Dean, the guild secretary, This was followed by a ceremony conducted by The Right Reverend John Davies, Bishop of St Asaph, assisted by the lifeboat chaplain and Vicar of Rhyl, Canon John Glover. The Duke then enjoyed a conducted tour of the station, followed by lunch with the crew and their families.

Titanic visit The youngest survivor of the 77fan/c disaster dropped in to see the crew at Broughty Ferry in August.

Millvina Dean lost her father in the famous disaster, when the liner struck an iceberg and sank in April 1912. Millvina handed over a wreath in the form of a White Star Line flag to Coxswain Jim Hughan and Station Honorary Secretary Calum Begg. She then went aboard the Trent class lifeboat Elizabeth of Glamis and the wreath was dropped at sea in memory of all those who died with the doomed ship 90 years ago.

Now a sprightly 91, and the youngest of the three Titanic survivors still alive, Millvina was in Dundee as guest of honour at the Ttanic Expo 2002. The largest Titanic exhibition mounted outside the United States, the event attracted more than 23,000 visitors.aking a clean start The RNLI Lifeboat College took a step closer to reality in October, when the Environment Agency declared the site clean. Development had been put on hold awaiting the agency's approval of the cleanup operation for the contaminated site. The approval meant that the RNLI could complete its purchase of the land and get started on construction. Work on the site is due to start in early January.

Work on the proposed site of the new RNLI Lifeboat Support Centre had been delayed by the discovery of a 250-year-old burial ground. Records show that a Baptist church and burial ground were on the land between 1735 and 1800 and a team of local archaeologists has been researching the site.

The team from Wessex Archaeology have also been delving into local council archives to get further details and now has many of the records relating to the burials. The RNLI is applying for a Home Office licence, which will allow the bodies to be exhumed and buried at another site.Saving Grace The Grace Darling Museum, in Bamburgh, Northumberland, is hoping for a cash boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to provide a fitting environment for its impressive displays. The museum celebrates the life of one of Britain's most famous maritime heroes.

The existing museum was built in 1938 and houses the original coble used by Grace and her father for the famous rescue of the crew from the Forfarshire in 1838. It also has a large collection of the original artefacts of the Darling family and the Foriarshire. The RNLI, together with the local Grace Darling Museum Committee, plans to replace the current single-storey building with a two-storey version by 2004. The museum would include a new space for education and enhanced displays.

Volunteer curator Christine Bell said: 'The museum is a tremendous local asset but the current building is not up to modern day standards for a collection of this importance.

These plans will allow both adults and children to get a much improved appreciation of Grace's life and heroism, and make the most of her story within the national curriculum.' The Armstrong Estate, which owns Bamburgh Castle and the land around the site, is helping with the scheme. The RNLI will make a formal application for HLF funding early in 2003, once planning and the remaining funding have been settled.safety Painting: Henry Porleo Parker The RNLI's Water Safety team have put together an interactive CD-ROM containing lots of excellent water safety advice. The CD is aimed mainly at people who go to sea on sailing or powered craft. Topics covered include: buoys and marks; navigation lights; shapes and lights; rules of the road; emergencies and first aid; weather and tides; and engine checks. It also gives access to the latest inshore and shipping forecasts and live weather reports.

This invaluable tool is now available at a cost of £5, including postage and VAT. To order your copy, telephone 01202 663174, or visit the website at www.lifeboats.org.uk/training for a sneak preview.The RNLI completed the site purchase on 21 November 2002. Tenders for construction of the Lifeboat College were received in November ano a contract has been placed with Dean and Dyball.Work on the site started before Christmas.RNLI appoints new director The RNLI has appointed David Brann as its new director of fundraising and communications.

David has been with the RNLI for eight years. He started as corporate fundraising manager before being promoted to marketing manager after three months.

He became the fundraising and marketing director in May 2001 This new post follows the amalgamation of the fundraising and public relations departments and takes effect from January 2003.

Before joining the RNLI, David was self employed, owning a restaurant and wine bar, and running a management consultancy business for five years. He is married with two daughters and lives in Poole, Dorset.

Speaking of his new appointment David said: 'I am delighted to be able to serve the RNLI in a wider capacity.

The merging of two successful communication departments into one that is even better is an inspiring challenge. The fall in the RNLl's legacy income, due mainly to the decline in value of the stock market, means we will need to step up our fundraising efforts and my goal for our new department is to double membership over the next five years.'RNLI beaches not just safe, but clean too Bathing water at every RNLI patrolled beach has been declared top quality in a recent European report. The European Bathing Water Directive judges beaches by measuring the presence of contamination from sewage and other sources. From 20 samples taken at each beach over the bathing season, 19 must pass strict tests set out in the directive. UK Water Minister Elliot Morley announced the findings in November 2002. 'We now have bathing water quality to match the best that Europe has to offer,' he said.

An RNLI spokesman commented: 'We are delighted that all RNLI beaches have such clear bathing water. Families can enjoy a day out at one of our beaches safe in the knowledge that the water is uncontaminated and RNLI beach lifeguards are patrolling the area.'The Seaworthy Yacht As part of the RNLI Advanced Technology Partnership established with the University of Southampton, Sir Robin Knox- Johnston CBE RD presented the second RNLI Public Lecture, entitled 'The Seaworthy Yacht', in December, in the Turner Sims Hall at the University of Southampton.

Sir Robin was the first person to sail single-handed around the world non-stop. In 1994 he also set the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe, in 74 days and 22 hours, as coskipper of ENZA. He has won numerous awards during his glittering career and was voted Yachtsman of the Year on two occasions in 1969 and 1994. Sir Robin is a member of the RNLI Council.

The Annual RNLI Public Lecture is part of the RNLI's Advanced Technology Partnership with the University of Southampton. The partnership, which was established in 2001, allows the RNLI's research and development into lifeboat design and construction to benefit from the expertise and resources at one of the leading universities involved in engineering, and marine and naval architecture.

Celebrations to come The following stations celebrate significant anniversaries in 2003 • 200: Arbroath, Exmouth, Hartlepool, Hoylake, Newhaven, Penlee, Plymouth, St Peter Port.

• 150: Sennen Cove • 100: Abersoch.