20/06/2004

Lifeboat joins in Glenans celebrations

The Baltimore Lifeboat, Hilda Jarrett, joined in celebrations to mark 35 years of the Glenans sailing community by participating in a search and rescue exercise on Sunday. The Shannon-based coastguard Sikorsky helicopter wowed onlookers with aerodynamic manoeuvres. Unfortunately the wind in the harbour was too light to carry out an airlift in full public view. The exercise had to be executed outside the harbour where fresher winds prevailed. Two crew-members were lifted off the lifeboat to successfully complete the exercise.

Next Saturday, 26th June the Baltimore Lifeboat will host its open day between 12pm and 5pm. This is a very family friendly event, where you can explore the lifeboat station and meet the lifeboat crew. There will be a few fun competitions too. “Get your kit on” is a timed race to struggle into lifeboat gear and will take place between 12:30pm and 1pm. Digital photographs will be available to record your childs visit to the station between 1:30pm and 4:30 pm and quiz sheets will be available throughout the day to test your knowledge of lifeboat lore. All visitors will automatically be entered in a draw and there are great prizes to be won.

Rescue statistics for 2003 indicate, that there were 867 lifeboat launches in the Island of Ireland last year with a total of 1,112 people rescued, the Baltimore lifeboat was launched 18 times and rescued a total of 30 people. The lifeboat is not only involved in search and rescue operations, it also takes preventative initiatives including SEA (Safety Equipment Advisory) check, which aims to help the recreational boating community improve its safety standards. SEA check provides free friendly and confidential on-board advice about safety equipment suitable for leisure boats. It is not a pass or fail thing simply a list of discussion points and can be carried out anywhere at anytime. To book a SEA check call 1800 789589.

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