Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 9

YOUR LETTERS
FOREWORD

RNLI lifeboats have
another busy year
around the Isle of Wight
Volunteer lifeboat crew members
who make it their mission to
save lives in the seas around
the Isle of Wight have had
another busy year as evidenced
by statistics released on the
30 January 2009 by the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution.
The RNLI – the charity that
saves lives at sea – has released
its annual statistics in the run-up
to its biggest annual fundraising
day held on Friday 30th January,
SOS Day 2009. They show that
lifeboat stations in Bembridge
and Yarmouth both had a busier
year than in 2007, with the
number of lifeboat launches up
at both.
Official figures show that in
2008, Bembridge RNLI lifeboat
launched a total of 57 times,
compared to 46 times in 2007.
Yarmouth’s RNLI lifeboat
launched 42 times in 2008,
compared to 36 times in 2007.
RNLI lifeboat activity was made
even busier in 2008 after the
former Cowes Inshore Lifeboat
service requested that the RNLI
take over responsibility for it.
Since becoming part of the RNLI
in July 2008, Cowes lifeboat has
launched a total of 21 times.
The figures illustrate the
ongoing need for funds to
ensure the RNLI can continue

its aim of saving lives at sea
and giving targeted sea safety
education to prevent people
getting into difficulties. Andrew
Ashton, RNLI Divisional Inspector
says:
‘All year round our volunteer
lifeboat crews are on call ready
to respond to calls for help in
wind, rain, and often darkness
to assist people who are in
need of rescue. These statistics
show an increase on last year’s
launches which means our
service is needed more than ever
before.
‘Friday was the charity’s biggest
fundraising day, RNLI SOS day,
when we appealed to people to
respond to our own call for help.
By supporting us the public will
be helping the RNLI to go on
saving lives at sea.’
The 2008 figures reveal that
more than a third of the lifeboat
launches from the three stations
on the Isle of Wight were
services conducted in darkness,
highlighting the dedication of
crew members. Also between
the three stations, a total of
141 lives have been saved,
highlighting the impact that RNLI
lifeboats have.
Michael Vlasto, RNLI
Operations Director, said: ‘In
a year that many families and

companies are feeling the
pinch, I hope these statistics
show the public why we are
asking them to support us. Over
the past five years our lifesaving
charity has rescued over 47,000
people who, for one reason or
another, needed our help. Many
would have died if it were not
for the bravery, skill and training
of our volunteer lifeboat crews
and lifeguards.’
The busiest coastal lifeboat
station in 2008 was Poole in
Dorset, while Tower lifeboat
station on the River Thames in
London was the busiest lifeboat
station overall in 2008.
RNLI Chief Executive Andrew
Freemantle said: ‘Events like
RNLI SOS Day are vital to our
charity, particularly in these
difficult times. We rely on the

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public’s support to deliver,
day in day out, lifeboat and
lifeguard services around our
island shores, and to enable
us to do this independently of
Government. I cannot thank the
public enough.’
Many SOS Day fundraising
events have taken the
all-important letters as
inspiration, hence people are
hosting afternoon teas (Savour
Our Scones), barbecues (Sizzle
Our Sausages), and wine tasting
evenings (Shiraz or Sauvignon),
to name but a few. To take part
in the RNLI’s 2009 SOS Day, find
out about inspiring fundraising
ideas, or to simply make a
donation, log on to www.rnli.
org.uk/sos or call 0845 121
4999.

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