How to get a Lifeboat out of the sea - RNLI Scarborough

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• published: 23 Jul 2013
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After having an evening walk along the sea front in Scarborough, we came across the Scarborough Rowing Club in the water, and watched the RNLI Life Boat crew doing some work on the beach. We soon saw that they were preparing to bring the Lifeboat back into the station, after a days exercise in the North Sea around Scarborough. Having never observed how the boat is brought out of the sea and back into the lifeboat station, we decided to hang around and watch them winch the boat out of the water. The crew use an amazing submersible tractor that can drive underwater equally as well as it does on dry land. It was amazing to watch this machine in action and how useful it is in helping the crews perform their duties in saving lives at sea. The machine clearly has a lot of power and we certainly enjoyed out little stop off on our walk. :) Enjoy. From Wikipedia: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways. The RNLI was founded on 4 March 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, with Royal Patronage from George IV. It was given the prefix "Royal" and its current name in 1854 by Queen Victoria. It has official charity status in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. The RNLI operates 444 lifeboats (332 are on station, 112 are in the relief fleet), from 236 lifeboat stations around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The RNLI's lifeboats rescued an average of 22 people a day in 2011. RNLI lifeboats launched 8,321 times in 2012, rescuing 7,912 people. The RNLI's lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 140,000 lives since 1824. RNLI lifeguards placed on selected beaches around England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands attended to 14,519 incidents in 2011. The RNLI's Operations Department defines "rescues" and "lives saved" differently. In 2012, the RNLI Lifeguards service was expanded to cover more than 180 beaches. RNLI lifeguards are paid by the appropriate town or city council, while the RNLI provides their equipment and training. In contrast, most lifeboat crew members are unpaid volunteers. The RNLI is funded by voluntary donations and legacies (together with tax reclaims). In 2011, the RNLI's income was £162.9M, while its expenditure was £140.6M.