Sennen Cove Lifeboat News

The 2011 Christmas period was, thankfully, a quiet and safe one for Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station.  We say this, not primarily for the sake of the crew, but for the obvious fact that a launch request means that someone is in difficulties out there, and that the end result could conceivably be tragic.  So it is with relief that we can say that neither of our lifeboats was called out on Christmas Day or any other day during Christmas.  Needless to say, the crews are always ready to respond as needed.

 

At the time of writing, the Station is being served by the relief Tamar class Edward and Barbara Prigmore, whilst the City of London III is away undergoing ballast tanks adjustments.  Some of you will remember that it is the same relief boat that came on station when we were awaiting the arrival of our new boat after the boathouse alterations had been finished.  So she is an old friend.

 

We mentioned in the last article that new lifejackets are being provided for all lifeboat crews.  The expected price for a new lifejacket for the all weather crew will be £330, and for the inshore crew £300.  The overall cost for each station is likely to be £4,500 - aq t the time of writing this article, we had already raised £1,682.  All the money we raise this year will go to that fund until we reach the target.  The present lifejackets have been in use since the early 1990s.  They have given excellent service and have never let us down.  But they have come to the end of their recommended life and, as they age, they become more expensive to maintain, though they continue to be rigorously checked and serviced.  One of the main differences is that the new ones will have more buoyancy, to comply with new industry standards.  Crews around the country said they wanted a lifejacket that remained comfortable to work in, no matter how long they were at sea, including greater freedom of movement.  There are also several additional benefits to the new jackets, but basically they provide increased safety for all sizes and shapes, and improved comfort, which will mean increased efficiency and effectiveness in lifesaving. In the end this is what matters.

 

In the near future, information about the 2012 season's activities will be available, and we will be going all out to raise the amount we need to provide our lads and lassies with the new lifejackets.  The Lifeboat Shop will be open for the season just before Easter.  How quickly the year moves on!