Don't guess - Marinecall It's often said that the British are fixated with the weather and sailors are positively obsessed with it - and rightly so.

make it easier to get that all-important weather forecast, RNLI and Marinecall have formed an exciting new partnership with particular benefits for RNLI supporters.

Marinecall is one of the UK's leading suppliers of specialist weather information for sailors and commercial seafarers.

With the forecasts based upon information supplied by the Met Office and available 24 hours a day, all year round, quality and reliability are assured. The service is available through a variety of media so that sailors can choose the technology that best meets their individual requirement, either before or during their time on the water.

RNLI supporters can now receive coastal, inshore and offshore forecasts via phone, fax or text message and 60% the cost of every call made by any of these methods will to the RNLI. The scheme is being officially launched on the RNLI's stands at the London Boat Show (see the pull-out centre section for more details).

A free copy of Marinecall's 2006 calendar, illustrated cartoons by the yachtsman's favourite cartoonist Mike Peyton, will also be available on the stands or by contacting Marinecall direct. Visit marinecall.co.uk, email [email protected].

or phone 0871 200 3985 Monday-Friday, while stocks last.

Nothing instils more confidence than knowing how the weather is expected to develop - see the advertisement opposite for full details of how to access the service.A 'Landmarc1 campaign Another new fundraising partnership with the RNLI was announced in October, when Landmarc Support Services Limited presented an initial donation of £5,000 to mark the beginning of the company's support over the next two years. The RNLI was nominated as Landmarc's charity partner by their Maintenance Technician Kevin McBay, who is also a volunteer crew member at Montrose lifeboat station.

Landmarc is responsible for the management, maintenance, operation and development of the Ministry of Defence's Army Training Estate (ATE). This comprises more than 120 sites, often in isolated areas. Staff across the country are being encouraged to rise to the challenge of raising at least £50,000 for the RNLI's Crew Training Campaign in as many different ways as they can dream up, whilst at the same time fostering positive relationships within their local communities.Cruising to victory Travelscope Holidays Ltd, a leading UK tour operator, has been generously supporting the RNLI since 2001. In a recent national poll run by Croup Leisure magazine and groupleisure.com, Travelscope was named the 'Best Group Tour Operator' in the UK.

Fundraising on board their cruise ship Van Cogh has raised nearly £20,000 since the relationship began, money that has been used in support of the RNLI's Crew Training Campaign. As well as on-board collections, the RNLI receives a significant donation from Travelscope for every holiday booked through adverts in the Lifeboat magazine, so far raising over £12,000. (See page 32.)The village sign at the entrance to Happisburgh (pronounced Haisbro) provides an effective insight into the village and its history. Images of Edric - a notable Dane from the time of the Norman Conquest - the church, the lighthouse and a shield bearing wheat - a symbol of agriculture - are accompanied by that of an old lifeboat.

Situated on the north east Norfolk coast, the story of the village is inseparably linked with the sea. The hazardous Haisborough Sands run parallel to the coast for nine miles and in 1866 the RNLI established a muchneeded lifeboat station to protect those who became stranded. A boathouse was built on the cliffs, above a gap to the beach, for £189.

The first lifeboat, Huddersfietd, was a 32ft self-righting type pulling ten oars and was paid for by the people of that town at a cost of £406. The third lifeboat was stationed at Happisburgh in 1907 and named The Jacob andRachelVallentine. MrVallentine was a prominent member of Brixton's Jewish community. He requested in his Will that a lifeboat be stationed on the east coast within a year of his death and bequeathed the funds to achieve this.

Friends near and far Nearly 100 years later, the lifeboat station at Happisburgh is still dependent on voluntary donations and legacies from the public. The efforts of the villagers, the surrounding community and even those miles from the sea raise the much-needed funds.

One local firm with links to the lifeboat station is Petrofac Facilities Management.

Petrofac operates several offshore gas fields in the southern North Sea on behalf of its client Tullow Oil and employs 109 staff on its offshore installations and at the Bacton gas processing site inland. Both companies have created an award scheme whereby an excellent 'no lost time' accident record is rewarded by a charitable donation.

Employees nominate the charity to benefit and Happisburgh and Lowestoft lifeboat stations have done so for several years.

Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, may be far inland and 156 miles from Happisburgh but it has a strong bond with the station. In 2003, volunteers from the RNLI's Berkhamsted and district fundraising branch ran a successful appeal to fund the station's latest £25,000 lifeboat, the Spirit of Berkhamsted. Now they are raising funds for the rebuilding of the boathouse, as D-607 is kept in a converted container. The lifeboat crew, shore helpers HappisburghOn Sunday 27 November, hundreds of runners, young and old, fit and not so fit, gathered i Moors Valley Country Park in Dorset to raise funds for the RNLIBantham beauty The latest addition to the RNLI's fleet of lifeguard rescue boats was named CSMA/Frizzell 2005 in August 2005, providing lifesaving cover at Bantham, one of South Hams' most popular beaches. This is the second rescue boat to be named and is one of 20 operating on the beaches in south west England.

The Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA) and Frizzell Financial Services Limited (Frizzell) have funded the boat, its engine, trailer and a quad bike, costing over £13,000. CSMA and Frizzell have been involved with the RNLI since 1984 providing £500,000 of funding for four inshore lifeboats, four vehicles, the instructor station for the lifeboat simulator, and the fitting out of the outboard engine test area, both at The Lifeboat College, Poole.Breaking the waves Walton and Frinton is often described in the tourist brochures as a peaceful seaside resort but it provides a different picture when there are gale-force winds blowing off the North Sea.

Situated on the north east Essex coast the lifeboat station has provided emergency search and rescue cover for over 120 years.

Until recently, access to the present Tyne class lifeboat was difficult in poor weather. Exposed to the elements on a swinging mooring this could delay launching the lifeboat and essential maintenance could prove impossible to complete safely.

A new jetty and wave screen have now been built, protecting the berth from direct wave attack. In calm conditions the all weather lifeboat is now moored directly next to the wave screen while in storms she is moored clear of the berthing face with bow and stern lines. Facilities also include a fuel tank, workshop and equipment store, and a davit for launching the inflatable lifeboat.

The new berth was officially opened and accepted into service on 1 May 2005 - something only possible because of the generosity of the RNLI's supporters.Action-packed adventure The Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel & Sports Show, taking place at Olympia, London from 13-15 January 2006, is the UK's biggest adventure travel and sports show. This year the RNLI is its official charity. RNLI members can book in advance for £7 instead of £10 on the door. The Show has provided both advertising space in their programme and stand space for the RNLI to recruit new members.

Call 0870 161 2122 or visit adventureshow.co.uk and quote 'RNLI' when booking your tickets.

Train one, save many Readers of the Lifeboat have been in the forefront of the RNLI's appeal to raise £10M over five years for crew training.

A letter inviting donations accompanied the summer issue of the magazine and, at the time of writing, supporters have given more than £60,000 by this method. To this has been added almost £13,000 through reclaimed tax, as most supporters Gift Aided their donation too. Even more magnificent is the result of the RNLI's first crew training direct mail campaign. This has so far raised an extraordinary £735,000.

The RNLI continues to rely on such voluntary donations, large and small, for its continued existence and gives its heartfelt thanks to all its supporters. Thank you!.