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 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.

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.

Displaying items by tag: Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series

7th January 2011

New Courses for All Fleets at Scottish Series

Today (7 January) Clyde Cruising Club, organisers of sailing's Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series, announced exciting developments for the 2011 event. The Scottish Series will see a refreshed offering, both on the water and shoreside, benefitting competitors and spectators a like. The news will be of interest to members of ICRA,

The 2011 Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series takes place over the bank holiday weekend from Friday 27 to Monday 30 May in Tarbert, Loch Fyne in the Clyde Estuary. Three race areas on the broad waters of the Loch will provide separate racing for IRC classes; One Design classes and CYCA classes (with and without spinnakers).

Clyde Cruising Club's main aim has been to provide fresh challenges for competitors, which has prompted changes including:
New courses for all fleets, providing variety to the standard windward/leeward course
The introduction of an Inshore Coastal (daytime) race for IRC classes which will take place during the weekend
Limitations to crew numbers
Some shore based start lines for the CYCA classes
Replacing the IRC sportsboats handicap starts with One Design class starts
2011 introduces a 'Laird of the Loch' event, an invitational competition between 2010 class winners in One Designs which will take place immediately before the Series on Thursday 26 May

Commodore John Watson, who takes over the role from Howard Morrison for the 2011 event, said "This is an exciting time for us, the event and the competitors. Over the last couple years we realised that the event needed rejuvenating and thought it was time to give it a bit of a shake up. Our main aim in changing the event has been to inject more fun and exciting elements of sailing to Tarbert.

"We hope that this refreshed offering will encourage more sailors from across the UK and further afield to consider entering the event and that past competitors will continue to return to the stunning waters of Loch Fyne."

Jamie Matheson, Chairman of Brewin Dolphin, title sponsors of the Scottish Series said "We have been sponsoring the Scottish Series for the past eleven years and think the proposed changes to the event format will offer something new and challenging for competitors."

"Clyde Cruising Club introduced these changes as a result of competitor consultation and it will be interesting to see how the developments influences sailing – it will no doubt make the event more enjoyable for all taking part."

Competitors are being encouraged to sign up early. Further details and race entry forms for this year's Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series are available now from the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series website.

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Scottish Series Sponsorship Continues

Today private client investment manager, Brewin Dolphin, announces its continued commitment to sponsor the Scottish Series, Scotland's premier sailing regatta, in 2011.

The Scottish Series has thrived during Brewin Dolphin's eleven year sponsorship growing awareness and numbers over the period. The event, which generates around £1 million each year for the local economy, has been running for over 30 years and attracts over 1,200 competitors to the picturesque Loch Fyne, over the May holiday weekend.

Commenting on the decision, Jamie Matheson, chairman of Brewin Dolphin, said, "We are pleased to announce our continued sponsorship of the world renowned Scottish Series. Our name has become synonymous with the event and we are delighted to be able to support it for yet another year."

Howard Morrison, Commodore of Clyde Cruising Club, event organisers, added, "The Scottish Series is a key event in the sailing calendar and we would like to thank Brewin Dolphin for their continued sponsorship of the Scottish Series. The funding will not only help develop the event, but also benefit sailing across Scotland."

Brewin Dolphin also sponsors the under 16 and under 18 youth rugby competition, the Scottish Schools Cup, which sees over 4,500 children taking part each year. As lead sponsors of both competitions, Brewin Dolphin has been able to support the drive to increase participation in both sports, whilst communicating with its target audiences.

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Day One Report from Scottish Series

Just as the stunning scenery never changes from year to year on Loch Fyne, so the winds remain inconsistent and challenging as was proven by the first day’s racing at this year’s Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series.

Patience was the primary virtue required, especially by the principal race officer whose team did their level best to second guess what the mainly westerly breeze was going to do next. After a delay of over one hour while the wind swung back and forth in direction, the reward was a sudden salutary 30 degree change in direction which completely skewed the course. All that could be done was to cut the race short and try again.

But the second race for the IRC Classes was worth the wait. Sunshine and 9-11 knots of wind peppered with just enough regular changes in direction and strength to offer tactical opportunities.

Veteran John Corson and his crew on Salamander XX repeated their successful start they made last year when they won both Races in the competitive IRC Class 3. With past Scottish Series Trophy winning helm John Highcock on the helm they emerged to with two good starts which, as the fastest rated boat in their fleet, was the key to being able to dictate terms to the fleet. Their closest rivals, another past winner of the top award, Steve Goacher steering Keith Hull’s Accrewed Interest were over the start line in the second race but still took second place to lie three points behind Corson’s crew on the Corby 33.

“I think the race officer did well to get two races in, I really did. It was probably one of the most difficult days I can remember. It was pretty stressful in judging what was going to happen and when it was going to happen, to make sure you were in the right place at the right time,” reported Highcock, a Clyde based sailmaker.

“Being able to tack in the direction you wanted to, when you wanted to was essential. And so getting clear in front of the fleet after the start was important, and we managed to do that.

“You had to not make decisions too early, but to react as and when things happened.”

Salamander XX proved how potent they are in these moderate breezes when they won the first contest by two minutes and 21 seconds, albeit which became a one way drag race – a tight reach and a tight spinnaker reach rather than a beat and run.

In IRC Class 1, in which four of the nine starters have Scottish Series Trophy winners as skippers or steering - Jonathan Anderson’s Playing FTSE leads Anthony O’Leary and his Cork crew on the Ker 39 Antix by three points. Antix found themselves pinned on the wrong side of that first big windshift and could only return a sixth, but won the second race while Playing FTSE placed first and third.

Rob Davies’ brand new Corby 36 Roxy 6 from Neyland in Wales leads Class 2 after winning both races, whilst in IRC 4 it is the Dublin Bay based X332 Equinox which leads.

Back on his native home waters and in the class in which he won the Scottish Series Trophy in 2003, Ruaraidh Scott made the perfect start to his challenge for the 1720 European title when he and his crew posted two victories in King Quick.

Results

Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series:

IRC Class 1: 1 Playing FTSE (J Anderson) 4pts, 2 Antix (A O’Leary) 7pts, 3 Impetuous (R Fildes) 9pts, Class 2: 1 Roxy 6 (R Daveies) 2 pts, 2 Tanit (R & P Harris) 4pts, Class 3: Salamander XX (J Corson) 2pts, 2 Accrewed Interest ( K Lord) 5pts, 3 Something Else (Hall/McDonnell/Hall) 7pts, Class 4: 1. Equinox (R McDonald) 5pts, 2 Shadowfax (S Fortieth) 6pts, 3 Rogue Trader (J Cumming) 8pts, Class 5: 1 Bambi (P Doig) 2pts, 2 Antix (J Allen) 6pts, 3 Wil2Win (W Partington) 7pts, Class 6: 1 Sunrise (S & N Chalmers) 2pts, 2 Dancer (M Stewardson) 5pts, 3 Tartan Pimpernel (N Howison) 8pts, Class 7: 1 What’s New Pussykate (S Scott) 3pts, 2 Piecemaker (S Hamilton) 6pts. Class 10: 1 Nuage (K Andrew) 3pts, 2 Poppy (J Roberts) 6pts, 3 Finesse (D Walter) 6pts, Sigma 33: 1 Sigmatic (D & A Mclaren) 5pts, 2 Sea Pie of Cultra (J Colman) 6pts, Sonata: 1 Blue Tack (D Boatman) 3pts, 2 So (N McLure) 5pts, 3 BFG (C Bentley) 10pts, Sportboat 1: 1 King Quick (R Scott) 2pts, 2 Alltalk (Angel/Stevenson) 6pts, 3 Richochet 6pts, Sportboat 2: 1 Haggis (E Mackay) 2pts, 2 ASBOat (G Whyte) 5pts, 3 Tonic (D Paton) 5pts. RS Elite: 1 Swallow (B Shaw) 3pts, 2 Elixir (S Maclean) 3pts 3 Ace High (J Pearson) 8pts.

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