Ice cream and face paints. Barbecues and bunting. There’s something very traditional about a lifeboat station open day, but there's also a definite 21st-century edge

In the pages of the Lifeboat, we try to bring you as close to the action as possible. But nothing compares to the live show. Many RNLI supporters tell us that they hope never to need the rescue services of our lifeboat crews, but there is another way to get up close and personal – at your local lifeboat station Come Visit Us day.

What is a Come Visit Us day?

They’re known in various places around the UK and RoI as station open days, lifeboat days – or in some particularly energetic and enthusiastic locations as open weekends or lifeboat weeks.

Held all around the UK and RoI during the Summer, a Come Visit Us day is a chance for an RNLI crew to show off their station and beloved boat, a chance for the general public to get an insider’s view of our rescue service, and an excuse for a party! It’s also an excellent fundraising opportunity.

RNLI Station Support Manager Keith Horrocks says: ‘This year, nearly 130 stations will be holding a Come Visit Us day. ‘From the feedback we receive every year, we know that thousands of people enjoy their visits and, of course, they get a chance to talk to our crews and see our lifeboats.’

Still on call

A Come Visit Us day is a special occasion, but in one important way it is the same as any other day – the lifeboat crew are still on call and ready to save lives. Many an open day has been disrupted by the sounds of pagers and the slick industry of a lifeboat launch.

On Monday 30 August 2010, Eastbourne Lifeboat Station’s Come Visit Us day was interrupted by an emergency call. Visitors who were being given a tour of the all-weather lifeboat were ushered ashore, and the lifeboat crew rushed from their various activities to get kitted up, jump onboard and launch to the rescue of a listing 8m trimaran. Horton and Port Eynon’s Open Day on 15 August saw a launch to a capsized kayak and a search for missing children. Troon lifeboat crew were called away from their event, on 17 July, to help a woman in the water, while Southend-on-Sea lifeboat crews were called out five times to real emergencies during last year’s Open Weekend.

What can you expect?

The RNLI’s lifeboat service is made up of 235 distinct communities – from Valentia to Lowestoft, Wick to St Helier, every local lifeboat celebration will have its own character. Here are some common themes, but we can’t guarantee all Come Visit Us days will feature all of the below:

Station tour

Let the crew give you the grand tour of their second home! See the kit room, training facilities, mechanic’s workshop and auxiliary equipment.

Lifeboat tour

Explore the station’s all-weather or inshore lifeboat, or both. At some stations, you can also get hands on with a hovercraft or a rescue watercraft!

Refreshments

Usually, the local lifeboat branch or guild will have been baking up a storm in the lead up to a Come Visit Us day. If cakes and buns are not to your taste, there’s often an ice cream or burger van on hand, as well as copious amounts of tea and soft drinks.

Get Your Kit On!

In one of the RNLI’s most popular games, competitors try to get into full crew kit as fast as possible, as if lives depend on their speed.

Stormy Stan

RNLI mascot Stormy Stan is now one of our most famous crew members, and definitely our most sociable! Despite the name, Stormy loves a bit of fun in the sun, and is a regular visitor to open days around the UK and RoI. Unfortunately, he is but one man, so can’t make them all ...

Family fun

... but there is plenty more to keep the kids amused! You want to keep them entertained over the long Summer holidays, and we want to get them excited about saving lives at sea. Of course, what they want to do is eat ice cream, have their faces painted, see cool machines and get the chance to win prizes. So it’s win-win-win!

Rescue demonstrations

A real rescue is exciting for visitors, but we don’t want anyone to get into serious trouble at sea. Rescue demonstrations are common on Come Visit Us days – they show the crowd what the boats and their crews are capable of, while also serving as good training exercises for the crew themselves. And sometimes it’s not just the lifeboats that are out there – RNLI crews are joined by their colleagues in other search and rescue agencies, such as the Coastguard or RAF, as well as RNLI lifeguards if there are any on patrol nearby.

Souvenirs

You just can’t leave a special occasion without a souvenir and, if you think you can, our dedicated RNLIshop volunteers will prove you wrong! From toys to tea towels, fridge magnets to lifeboat-shaped jellies, they’ll have something for you!

Fundraising

If you’re reading the Lifeboat, you’re probably already a committed RNLI supporter – thank you. All members of the public are welcome at Come Visit Us days, so you will probably see a collection box or a face-to-face fundraising team.

Safety advice

RNLI Sea Safety and/or Beach Safety Teams should be
on hand, giving out quality booklets and free advice
to all.

Sunshine

Well, we’re always optimistic!

How to attend

See rnli.org.uk/opendays for a list of lifeboat station open days near where you live or holiday. If your local station’s open day has been and gone, you could call the station and try to arrange a visit. Or why not come along to our Headquarters Open Weekend in Poole, Dorset, on 9–10 July? We’d love to welcome you here!

Could you help?

If you’d like to get more involved with the RNLI where you live, and possibly help out at open days, street collections and other events, register as an RNLI deck hand at rnli.org.uk/deckhands and we’ll let you know when volunteering opportunities come up.