Bond Star Daniel Craig’s Motorbikes Sell for Record Amount to Benefit RNLI

20th October 2024

Daniel Craig donated his personal limited edition 007 x Triumph motorcycles to raise a record total of £60,000 (€72,000) for the RNLI Credit: Triumph

Actor Daniel Craig donated to auction his personal limited edition 007 x Triumph motorcycles to raise a record total of £60,000 (€72,000) for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to commemorate their 200th anniversary year of lifesaving.

Craig has been a lifelong supporter of the RNLI, with his previous involvement including supporting a station campaign at Hoylake near where he grew up, and going afloat with the lifeboat crew at Ramsgate.

The successful bidders secured the #003/250 Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition, and the #001/250 Tiger 900 Bond Edition, which were inspired by the Triumph Scrambler 1200 and Tiger 900 that featured in the 25th James Bond film, No Time To Die.

Both motorcycles were signed by Daniel Craig on each side. They were sold with a certificate of authenticity signed by both Daniel Craig and Triumph Motorcycles CEO Nick Bloor.

The #003/250 Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition sold for £28,000 and the #001/250 Tiger 900 Bond Edition sold for £32,000 at Bonhams during the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show last Sunday (13 October) in Staffordshire.

Each lot also included a riding experience at the Triumph Adventure Experience in Wales with James Bond stunt coordinator Lee Morrison and stunt double Paul Edmondson.

Daniel Craig said: “The RNLI has been close to my heart all my life since growing up near the RNLI station at Hoylake. I am delighted that the auction was a record success and hope the donation will contribute to the incredible job the RNLI do of saving lives at sea.”

Jayne George, RNLI director of fundraising said: “It’s incredible to have Daniel’s support in our 200th year and continue our special relationship which started back when he was a child in Hoylake. As a charity we rely on donations to achieve our mission to save every one.

“The money raised from the auction will make a huge difference. It will enable us to invest in vital training and equipment for our lifesavers as well as helping us to deliver water safety advice to the public so we can prevent people getting in trouble at sea.”

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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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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