Volume XLVIII Number 482 The LifeboaJournal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Winter 1982/t3 25p Help yourself to a 9 5% discount ™ ** with a special RNU CRAFT INSURANCE AT LLOYD'S) by completing the form below now For a competitive yacht or craft quotation complete this form and return FREEPOST. Name (Mr., Mrs., Miss) Price paid Date of Birth Present value : Hull machinery, equipment etc. £ Age Occupation Dinghy and/or Boat £ Address Outboard Motor £ Personal effects £ Tel. No. (Day) (Evening) Trailer (if required) £ Name of Vessel TOTAL TO BE INSURED £ Type Date purchased THIRD PARTY INDEMNITY in excess of the value, if so, for what amount? Tonnage (T.M.) When built (The ordinary policy limits the indemnity in respect of claims by Third Builder's name Parties to the insured value of the vessel). £ Length O.A. L.W.L. Make of Engine(s) Beam Draft Date Material of hull State if marine engine/conversion/outboard Sail Area Do you wish to cover Mast, Spars, Sails and Rigging whilst racing? Designed maximum speed If so, give replacement value £ Fuel used for main and auxiliary machinery Do you require an excess in the policy: if so, for what amount? Is Calor or other bottled gas used? (i.e. .you bear the first so much of each claim) £ If so, state material of delivery tubing What cruising range is to be covered? What fire extinguishers are kept on board Where is the vessel moored when in commission? State period for which vessel is to be insured Where will she be laid up? In commission Will the vessel be laid up ashore? Q in mud berth? [j afloat? f] months from to What accidents have you had during the past five years in connection with Laid up any vessel you have sailed or owned that would give rise to a claim ? months from to Give particulars Are you entitled to N.C.D. Use the FREEPOST service to return the questionnaire or send for your copy of the brochure for other insurance and financial services for supporters of RNLI HOUSE CONTENTS LIFE ASSURANCE CAR INSURANCE INVESTMENT/SAVINGS RETIREMENT PLANS To AEGIS INSURANCE SERVICES (GROUP) LTD., FREEPOST, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 5BU. Please send me, without obligation, my personal copy of the complete insurance and investment service brochure, No postage necessary if posted in the U.K. lam particularly interested in the following (tick box required). PJ Family Protection/Life Assurance PJ Finances in Retirement Pj Household Insurance Premiums can be paid Pj Review of existing Life Assurance Plans PI Tax efficient Investment PJ Insurance of Valuables bY BarclaVcarii or Access PJ Investment for future House Purchase PJ Car Insurance PJ Please phone me to discuss . Pleasee rinring foforr aann appointmenappointmentt aa t any of our principal offices: Belfast 0232 47747 • Maidenhead 0628 23484 • Bristol 0272 297777 • Yeovil 0935 20044 Whatever your insurance and investment needs, AEGIS will advise you THE LIFEBOAT Winter 1982/83 Contents Notes of the Quarter 146 Long Service Awards. 148 Volume XLVIII Number 482 Lifeboat Services. 149 Atlantic Watch: Ireland's western lifeboat stations, Arranmore, Galway Bay and Valentia, by Ray Kipling, Public Relations Officer, RNLI 155 Chairman: THE DUKE OF ATHOI.L Naming Ceremonies: Two station lifeboats, at Mallaig and Aldeburgh; a relief lifeboat at Poole; and the prototype Tyne class lifeboat in the City of Director and Secretary: London 158 REAR ADMIRAL W. J. GRAHAM, CB MNI Commercial Shipping: Taking off the crew . 162 Lifeboat People. 167 Some Ways of Raising Money. 169 Editor: JOAN DAVIES Shoreline . 174 Headquarters: Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Lifeboat Services, June, July and August, 1982 176 West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ (Telephone Poole (0202) 671133). Telex: 41328. Letters 179 London Offices: Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Index to Advertisers. 180 202 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7JW (Telephone 01-928 4236). Editorial: All material submitted for Advertisements: All advertising enquiries consideration with a view to publication should be addressed to Dyson Advertis- in the journal should be addressed to ing Services, PO Box 9, Godalming, the editor, THE LIFEBOAT, Royal Nation- Surrey (Telephone Godalming (04868) al Lifeboat Institution, West Quay 23675). Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ (Tele- phone Poole (0202) 671133). Photo- Subscription: A year's subscription of graphs intended for return should be COVER PICTURE four issues costs £1.40, including post- accompanied by a stamped and addres- age, but those who are entitled to sed envelope. Whitby's 44ft Waveney lifeboat The White receive THE LIFEBOAT free of charge will Rose of Yorkshire climbs a 25ft breaking sea continue to do so. Overseas sub- in the approaches to Whitby Harbour. Re- scriptions depend on the cost of postage turning from service in a strong north-north- Next issue: the Spring issue of THE to the country concerned. Write to westerly gale on April 8, 1982, she found LIFEBOAT will appear in April and news RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset conditions too dangerous to enter harbour. BH15 1HZ. She was returning to sea to make for Scarbor- items should be sent by the end of ough when she met this very large wave. (Full January. News items for the Summer report, page 149). The photograph was taken issue should be sent in by the end of Printers: The Friary Press, Grove Trad- by Theo G. R. Stibbons. April. ing Estate, Dorchester, Dorset. 145 City of London naming plugs are well known examples. In Another unique naming ceremony August a most valuable and useful gift took place on the River Thames on of a marine radar simulator was made November 1. Lady Leaver, Lady to the Institution by Rediffusion Mayoress of London, named the pro- Simulation Ltd. totype 47ft Tyne class lifeboat City of The simulator, which will be used to London at the steps by Fishmongers' train lifeboat crews in radar operating Hall. Among the guests were Lord procedures, has been installed in a Inchcape who was chairman of the City caravan and will be taken to lifeboat of London Appeal which raised over stations all around the coast to provide £400,000 to pay for the lifeboat and local training facilities. Previously such representatives of many businesses and training had to be carried out at sea or livery companies which had contributed at special training centres. to the appeal. The lifeboat is the first to bear the Another step forward name City of London and will be After prolonged technical and opera- stationed at Selsey when she completes tional evaluation trials the RNLI has her trials. selected a VHP direction finding system as the standard installation in certain New Bredes classes of lifeboat. The equipment, the The 33ft Brede class lifeboat, built by Simrad L1520 from Racal Decca, can Lochin Marine and based on one of give the bearing of transmissions from a NOTES OF their commercial hulls, is now in pro- casualty fitted with a VHP radio, thus duction. The prototype boat, used for helping to reduce considerably time THE QUARTER extensive trials, is to be sold and subse- spent searching. quent boats, which incorporate a num- At present this VHP DP equipment can BARMOUTH'S NEW 37ft 6in Rother life- ber of important modifications, are only be installed in certain cabin life- boat was named Princess of Wales by already in service; 33-02, Ann Ritchie, is boats which lie afloat; further technical the Princess on November 25 in her first on station at Oban and 33-03, Leonore work is necessary before it can be engagement for the RNLI. The Prin- Chilcott, is at Fowey. considered for other lifeboats, including cess, accompanied by Prince Charles, housed boats with folding aerials. It will was given an enthusiastic welcome by Radar simulator gift be standard equipment for all new the large crowds and took obvious The RNLI is fortunate to receive lifeboats of the Arun, Waveney and delight in naming the lifeboat. Over support in many different ways. Many Brede classes, and it will be fitted to £60,000 towards the cost of the boat was firms make regular donations in the existing boats of these classes over a raised by a special appeal in Wales to form of goods; Duckhams lubricants, period of about four years; Clyde and celebrate the Royal Wedding. A full Martell brandy and Champion spark- Thames class lifeboats will also be account of the naming ceremony will included in this programme. Each in- appear in the next edition of the stallation in an existing boat will, of journal. course, call for individual attention; in particular, as the new aerial has to be at the highest point, above the wheel- house, the effect of its weight on the stability and self-righting capability of each boat must be carefully checked. Staff retirements At the end of 1982 a number of well known and long serving members of staff retired. Lt-Col Brian Clark retired as national organiser (Ireland) after 15 years service; Glyn Williams as regional organiser (Wales) after 15 years service; Barmouth: TRH The Prince and Prin- Ken Bryon as legacies and trusts con- cess of Wales, with Barmouth lifeboat- men, looking at the picture presented to troller after 44 years service, and Peter the Princess after she had named the 37ft Young as electronics surveyor after 18 years service. Mrs Doris Hills, whose 6in Rother lifeboat Princess of Wales, photograph by courtesy of Jeff Morris cheerful voice has greeted thousands of Poole: After HRH Crown Prince Harald Yarmouth, Isle of Wight: of Norway, Honorary Colonel of the During a visit to the Isle of Royal Marines, had visited Commando Wight last October, HRH units at Hamworthy on November 4 he The Duchess of Kent cal- embarked in one of the Institution's led at Yarmouth lifeboat latest 52ft Arun class lifeboats and was station, meeting officials brought round to the RNLI depot quay, of the branch and of West to visit Poole HQ and depot.