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Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station

News release

Issued by Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer

21/10/2007     SMT/071021-005

EXERCISE: TRACTOR BOGGED DOWN.

Rye Harbour RNLI lifeboat, B-727, launched today (21/10/2007) on exercise.  The launchers and crew (who didn't go afloat) were put through their paces, whilst taking part in the tractor bog down exercise, on the sands at Rye Harbour.

Rye Harbour lifeboat crew train every Sunday morning between 10AM and 1PM, and again on Monday evening from 6.30PM.

Richard Tollett, Lifeboat Operations Manager said: 'You wouldn't expect a fighter pilot to fly a plane without training - exactly the same way; we wouldn't expect our volunteer crews to go on a service, without training.  Today's exercise is an essential part of the training programme here at Rye Harbour'.

The exercise was planned for today, as the tides are short (today high tide was 2 meters at Rye Harbour approaches at 07.21AM; the next high tide is 2.1 meters at 8PM at Rye Harbour approaches), giving the best conditions for this type of exercise.

It is essential that the new volunteer crew and launchers get practical training with this type of exercise, so, should this happen for real, in rough weather and at night, they will have been trained for this situation.

When the tractor is bogged down, on the sand, it is essential to use the sand anchor: there is no fixed point.  The anchor is screwed into the sand, and a winch cable attached - the tractor can be recovered by winching and driving the tractor.

END

Photo captions: (Click option to see photo)

Photo 1: Crew pulling winch cable ashore

Photo 2: Crew screwing in sand anchor

Photo 3: Tractor, recovered, still attached to sand anchor

Photo 4: Tractor recovered

Notes to editors

  1. Picture(s) courtesy of Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station
  2. The RNLI has over 330 lifeboats at its stations. This fleet enables the lifeboat service to reach at least 90% of all casualties within 10 nautical miles of lifeboat stations within 30 minutes of launch in all weathers.
  3. During 2006 RNLI Lifeboats launched 8,377 times, that is an average of 23 per day. Rescuing 8,015 people, an average of 22 per day

For more information please contact Steve Tollett, the RNLI lifeboat press officer at Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station on email: Press Officer.

  • The RNLI is a registered charity that saves lives at sea.
  • It provides, on call, the 24-hour service necessary to cover search and rescue requirements to 100 nautical miles out from the coasts of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
  • There are over 230 lifeboat stations.
  • RNLI Beach Lifeguards operate in the south and south west of England.
  • The RNLI further saves lives through sea and beach education.
  • The RNLI depends on voluntary contributions and legacies for its income.

    • Vision


    To be recognised universally as the most effective, innovative and dependable lifeboat service.Royal National Lifeboat Institution headquarters:

    West Quay Road
    Poole
    Dorset
    BH15 1HZ
    Tel 0845 1226999
    Fax 0845 1261999