Dun Laoghaire Sailing School 'Sail–a–thon' to Raise Funds for RNLI Lifeboats

29th April 2014

#rnli – The Irish National Sailing School's (INSS) Sail-a-thon 2014 in aid of the RNLI is taking place this Saturday the 3rd of May. The first question readers of this may have is what is a sail-a-thon? Effectively, it's a sponsored sailing-marathon where participants raise money in aid of our chosen charity. The Sail-a-thon is an annual event at the Irish National Sailing School and since 2007 we have raised over €20,000 for Crumlin Children's Hospital. With this year's event falling on Saturday the 3rd of May, during the RNLI's MayDay Campaign we thought that the RNLI was the perfect charity to run the event is aid of. After all, it's the RNLI that all sailors depend upon in circumstances where things go wrong!

The Sail-a-thon will be on Saturday the 3rd of May and runs for 7 hours, for which participants from the Irish National Sailing School's Junior Club which sails throughout the school term on Saturday's will be taking part.

We are aiming to get over 100 junior club members out sailing in over 50 boats for over 7 hours (split into shifts) whilst enjoying non-stop races, regattas (15+ Group), and all out fun! At the end of this busy day all sailors can look forward to a celebratory BBQ in the INSS Clubhouse and a prize giving ceremony with dozens of prizes. All parents are invited to attend the BBQ and prize giving where we will be presenting a representative from Dun Laoghaire RNLI with a cheque for all funds raised!

So if you're on the water in Dun Laoghaire this Saturday make sure to pop over to the West Pier and say hello! The training area of the outer harbour will be home to our 15+ years age section who take part in their annual regatta as part of the Sail-a-thon. The 11-14 years age group will be sailing their highly decorated toppers, adorned with balloons and flags in the vicinity of the marina and outer harbour. Our 7-10 years age group will be heading up and down the West Pier, taking part in races, games and all out fun!

Collectors will be based on the West Pier, where donations can be made on the day, or alternatively those wishing to support Sail-a-thon 2014 in aid of the RNLI can make donations online at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/rnlisailathon2014/ .

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Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

Which is Ireland's busiest lifeboat station?

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Do the RNLI get paid?

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

How many RNLI Lifeboat stations in Ireland?

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

How many lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions?

How many people are rescued by the RNLI?

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

What type of boats does the RNLI have?

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

How are lifeboats called out?

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

What is the relationship between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI in Ireland?

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

What is a coxswain?

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

What training do RNLI lifeboat crews get?

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset

How can one support the RNLI?

While the RNLI is dependent on donations and legacies for funding, they also need volunteer crew and fund-raisers.

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