Lifeboat Lobster....

It seems like every year we manage to add more to our already busy lifeboat week. One fantastic addition to our event this year was a raffle for a lovely big lobster. Swanage Bay Fish proprietors Julia and Terry very kindly donated the prize and I believe arranged the raffle. In total their customers raised £145 for the RNLI. The lucky winner being a local lady, Mrs Cotterell. Well done Mrs Cotterell (and if you need anyhelp eating it just let me know!)

Many thanks to Swanage Bay Fish for their support.

Winners

Congratulations are in order for the Card Shop in Swanage who are this year's winners of the much coveted 'Swanage Lifeboat Lifeboat Week Window Dressing Shield'.

This is hotly contested each lifeboat week by most of the shops in Swanage but, my girls had to agree with the judges, this years' win was richly deserved by the Card Shop.

Well done to all who took part and in particular the Card Shop!

Lifeboat service

Somehow I've managed to miss out Saturday night...needless to say it was a great night and the crowd seemed to be larger than ever before.

After a busy day yesterday, including an impressive helicopter display, it was time for a final clear up and then our annual 'Lifeboat Service'. Both boats were re-housed then launched again to make their way round to the Pier for the service...once more conducted by Rev Tony Higgins, our Lifeboat Chaplain (and a previous crewmember I might add).

There was a great crowd in support and, in a typical Martin style twist, our good Coxswain had decided that we should expand the service and turn it into more of a service of the sea with a variety of local boats present. What a great idea, we even had the joy of seeing one of the Gigs filled with four generations of the extended Marsh family. Wonderful (and welcome to the lifeboat family Cameron)!

Roger had cut short a mackerel trip to join us on Precious.

Geoff Marsh and Jeff Lander had also made the effort to attend so a big thanks to them too.

And so it was time for a final circuit round the bay before a thorough wash-down then rehouse. A busy but, successful and mostly enjoyable weekend.

Build-a-boat

As I type the build-a-boat competition ins underway. Equipped only with one sheet of ply, a few screws, one tube of glue and a few other bits and bobs, each team has to build a craft capable of navigating a course on the sea with one crew member onboard.

Two teams turned up additionally equipped with a case of Stella, some potent looking cider and a sack load of enthusiasm (though seemingly little understanding of the art of Naval Architecture).

Nick Harris' creation is looking good.

And Team Brian & George are creating an optimistic design once again.

The sea trials take pace at about 4.30 this afternoon so make sure you come down to watch...it generally provides a few laughs!

Naturally both our Lifeboats will be launching to provide whatever assistance may be required!

Flag Day

So today, as well as being the first big night down at Prince Albert's Gardens, is also the day when our supporters in town hit the streets and shack their tubs raising money for the RNLI. I've just had a quick scout around town and here are a few photos of the great and the good doing their stuff.

Katrina (Mrs Cox'n) was out with one of her lovely dogs shaking her funky thing outside of Boots.

Meanwhile Robin was lost in translation with a couple of visitors from Latvia.

Almost every shop door had some kind supporter encouraging passers by to help us in what we do.

Katrina's sister, Belinda was there too on the sunny side of the street.

Well done and thanks to you all for you valued support...

Too many Florence nightingales
Not enough robin hoods
Too many halos not enough heroes
Coming up with the goods
So you though you'd like to change the world
Decided to stage a jumble sale
For the poor, for the poor
(The Housemartins - Flag Day)

Race night

Tonight we launched the ALB for the Swanage Sailing Club RNLI pennant race and the Swanage Sea Rowing Club RNLI Gig race. The weather was fair with a pleasant breeze so altogether a great evening.

Dave and Rob were both onboard.

The race got off to a smooth start for once with no dramas.

Our very own Lifeboat Operations Manager was taking part and seemed to be doing reasonably well.

In the rowing Martin was taking part with a team from the Gig club who looked pretty well drilled.

And our very own (and recently victorious) RNLI gig crew were taking part...though sadly less success than they are used to.

Taking it easy...

Last night's exercise was intended to be a quiet one so that the crew could meet together and plan in detail some of the logistics of lifeboat week. Both boats went to sea but not for a heavy-weight exercise...more an exercise in getting wet and checking that everything was as it should be on the ILB.

On completion we had an informal meeting and Martin had the excellent idea of providing a BBQ with steak baguettes and a beer or two. Altogether a great idea and as you can imagine...highly popular with the crew!

Regular blog reader, Simon Dubbin and his lovely family are down staying for a week or two in one of the Coastguard cottages. It's great to see them again and to be reminded that the Swanage Lifeboat family stretches much further than we often realise. I for one am constantly amazed by the extraordinary support that we get from folk. Humbling...

Approaching fast . . .

Lifeboat Week 2009 is now a little over 4 weeks away. Today we took delivery of our car/house/shop window stickers.

If you'd like one pop into the Lifeboat Shop in The Square, the Lifeboat Station or just download one from [ here ], print it out and pop it in your window.

Whaling

Each year we try to improve upon last year's Lifeboat Week with ever more imaginative and exciting activities and fundraising events. This year my responsibility is for booking the bands for the Friday and Saturday night. Martin has also tasked me with finding some way of broadening the appeal of Saturday afternoon when we hold our 'build-a-boat' competition. One of my ideas is to hold a sort of mini sea shanty festival. It's certainly in keeping with our maritime nature and would (I think) be perfectly suited to the location in Prince Albert's garden and of course the fine weather which we have booked! I'll keep you posted on my progress with this...

What do you think? Like the idea? Hate it? Please let me know (of course, if you have any other ideas for what we can do please let me know about those ideas too).

Here and gone

So Lifeboat week has finished. It's certainly been busy but also a lot of fun for all involved I think? As usual I have loads of photos, I will try and get organised over the next few days and put as many up as I can manage.

In a moving ceremony Deasy tapped the first barrel (all the beer was provided by the Ship...thanks Nathan)at about 4pm on Friday. I'm not sure exactly how many were drunk altogether but it was many!

Black Sheep kicked off the entertainment on Friday night with a spot of country dancing. As expected the crew interpreted this as an invitation to throw each other about wildly.

Stormy Stan showed up with his bucket many times and proved to be a real hit with the local girls.

And the crew seemed to be having a great time.

Lots of hugs and happy smiles all round...

Quizical

Wednesday night was the quiz night in the Conservative club. It was really well attended as usual and things went superbly. Not surprisingly one of the lifeboat teams won the 'wooden spoon' once more...well done 'SeaBass'!

Today is a busy day setting up things for the weekend down at Prince Albert Gardens. All the crew are meeting at 9 for a briefing and sharing out jobs. Busy times.

Rain or Shine

This year's lifeboat week kicks off at 7.30pm on Sunday 10th of August in Prince Albert Gardens with the Rain or Shine Theatre company performing William Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale". The tickets are £10 (£12 on the door), children £5 (5-15) and are available from the following:

Swanage Tourist Information Centre: 01929 422885 / 08704 420680

Swanage Lifeboat Station: 01929 423237

Grounds open from 6pm for picnics, please bring your own seating and warm clothing.

This promises to be a fabulous evening, the Rain or Shine Theatre Comany are a very professional touring outfit with a reputation for stunning interpretations of Shakespeare's classics.

Please come and suppport this event as we are certain it will be a tremendous evening. Book now before it is too late!!

(Thanks to rain or shine for the image).

1st Aid update

Tonight we have an exercise. It will be shore based and Paul Savage is coming over to give us an update on our November 1st Aid course (required because the course content has changed slightly since our trial in November). We also have a crew meeting to deal with lifeboat week issues and job allocations! Time to keep a low profile I think...........

What goes around comes around

Well that time of year is approaching again..........Lifeboat week! Yesterday Dave sent out a 25 page planning document to each of us. It contained details of each event, who is responsible for it, what has been booked, what needs doing etc etc.

Each year lifeboat week seems to grow and grow. This year there are some superb additions to the events lined up. These include a Shakespearian evening, Bingo and an open evening at the Boathouse. Of course all of the old favourites like raft racing, darts, sailing and gig racing, build a boat, stalls, cream teas, BBQ music bar and loads more are still there too. There really will be something for everyone so if you're at a loose end from the 10th to the 17th of August come to Swanage for some fun!

If you think you might be able to help please get in touch by e-mailing me or contacting the boathouse.

It's exercise night tonight and both boats will be going to sea, launching at 1900.

Nick here is off on holiday. He departed this morning to visit his brother in law in the USA. Safe trip Nick.

'Cause I'm leavin', on a jet plane,
Don't know when I'll be back again.
(John Denver)

Not something we wish to see in anger

IB1 or the 'D' class lifeboat is the only lifeboat in the RNLI fleet (except the Thames boats and hovercrafts) which is not self-righting. This means if the worst happens, as it sometimes does, and it capsizes, the only way to get it back upright is 'handraulically'.During lifeboat week this year we had one of the old retired 'D' class boats from headquarters. It's job in life now is to serve as a practise boat to be taken to stations around the coast so that ILB crews can practise their capsize recoveries. And to be honest it's pretty simple.Swim out from under the boat. Check every one is there. Climb onto the upturned hull.Free the painter. Tie it off at the stern. Hold on tight and lean back.If it all goes according to plan (and especially if Tom is onboard) it will all be shipshape and the right way up in a matter of moments. Of course you are now the right way up, with no power and the brother of the nasty wave which capsized you is heading your way! It's now going to take about 5 minutes to purge the engine of water and get it started again......time to get the sea anchor and oars out (of course you can't really paddle the boat with the oars but they do a fine job of keeping the bow to the sea).

Thanks to Mark Savage for the photos

Reflections

Casting my mind back over the summer's photos I realise that I have several hundred images from lifeboat week which have yet to see the light of day. Add to these Mark Savage's collection and I have enough to keep me going for many years to come. I like this particular shot for 3 reasons:

1. Because it could have been taken on any one of the years that I have been on the crew and so seems timeless.
2. At a glance it looks as though Skid is doing something spectacularly foul to the poor paddlers.
3. It also shows Skids mildly challenged hair follicles off to perfection.

Friday night live

The weather held last night and crowds of people came. I think I can safely say that everyone had a great time. Loads of our friends were there and plenty of visitors too. Prince Albert's Gardens are a wonderful setting as they catch the evening sun and everyone gets a good view and somewhere to sit.Kev had a great idea of selling glow sticks. These went down a treat and loads were sold.My kids stayed up and were true 'Feral' lifeboat orphans for the evening.Our banking bar staff were back again and in the spirit.A great evening
.........

Suprise visitor

In the middle of our bash down at the Prince Albert Garden's last night we were honoured to have a surprise guest visitor. In lifeboating circles 'Stormy Stan' is a legend (in his own lunchtime). He certainly gets around a bit. He was spotted in town yesterday collecting funds with a bucket. He then turned up out of the blue in the evening. And boy can he party!With no shame at all he was straight up on stage and joining in with the band.Moments later he was sighted playing a tremendous rendition of 'Stairway to Heaven' on his air guitar. He came close to upstaging the the band but, being a natural diplomat he poured oil on troubled waters.Thanks Stan.......

Gigging

The gig racing also went very well last night. Both of our boats, Peveril and Old Harry were on the water and Weymouth brought one of their gigs up for the night. Racing was close. So close in fact that the youth race was a dead tie. Well done to you.Weymouth's gig is a rather rastafarian affair. However, it is without doubt very photogenic.There was a rather pretty sunset.Our crew on the ALB had a good time of it and seemed happy enough.The sunsets kept coming!Our Coxswain Martin and his two lads Gav and Matt looked pretty knackered at the end.

Thanks to the sailing club for providing food and beer at theirs afterwards. Very hospitable.