I was interested to read your article ‘Wind power in Shetland’. At a time when wind power, in the form of a proposed 150-turbine wind farm in Shetland, is the subject of much debate, I believe that smaller units to make individual operations self sufficient is a more environmentally friendly way forward.

However, while applauding the fact that Aith Lifeboat Station will be powered by its turbine, I do not understand how it will be able to sell excess electricity to the grid, since Shetland is not connected!

Regards
Mike Bennett

Shetland is not connected to the UK grid, but it does have its own grid, to which the turbine at Aith is ‘tied’. Any power not used at the station can therefore be exported, rather than being wasted.

just bought one of the books advertised in your recent Offshore email. I clicked the link you provided and followed the normal Amazon process. I was a bit surprised that there was no mention of the 5% order value going to the RNLI. Is this done on some kind of trust system or was there some auditing I missed?

Regards
Mike Pearce

This query has been raised by several readers following the instructions in our Review section (see page 32). You can be reassured that the RNLI does receive a minimum 5% donation of the value of all orders made through the link at rnli.org.uk/amazon. The RNLI is a member of Amazon.co.uk Associates Programme and receives the earnings on a monthly basis. However this lack of transparency is being followed up with Amazon.

Just catching up … on page 24 of your Autumn 2009 issue [in the account of the medal-winning rescue by Dunbar crew], you say of the survivors: ‘Ingrid wore their only lifejacket’ ... I found this just totally and absolutely in - cre -di - ble! As a skipper, I’ve frequently encountered resistance to wearing lifejackets despite my yacht being very small (less than 7m), with little to fall off and liable to unpredictable behaviour especially in any kind of sea. While you may not want to preach overmuch to your readers, might you consider emphasising such points?

Very best
Elizabeth Forbes
London

Those of our readers who use the sea themselves can upgrade to receive Offshore magazine alongside the Lifeboat, which includes lessons learned by rescuees and techniques to adopt for safe enjoyment of the water. Meanwhile the RNLI works by various means to convince wider audiences of the importance of lifejacket use, including providing free advice and materials at shows, clubs, slipways and online, and placing adverts in publications to promote its lifejacket campaign message, Useless unless worn.