Barmouth 2011 launch stats published

Our launch statistics for 2011 are now available on the website - see Shouts 2011 for the details.

2011 saw RNLI lifeboats launch 8,905 times around the coast of the UK and RoI, rescuing 7,976 people. Last year was the second busiest for launches according to RNLI records. The 4,800 dedicated lifeboat crew – 95% of whom volunteer their time to the charity – spent a collective 203,000 hours at sea and are on call 24/7. Breaking the figures down, close to 18% (1,641) of lifeboat call outs last year were attributed to machinery failure. 978 (60%) of these launches were to powered pleasurecraft, 383 (23%) to sail pleasurecraft and 217 (13%) to fishing vessels.

2011 saw a 10% jump in the number lifeboat launches to 'people in the sea' compared to 2010 – from 1,438 to 1,592. And people finding themselves 'cut off by the tide' led to 346 rescue launches – up more than 20% on the previous year. The message is clear, plan your trip to the coast and make sure you're aware of local conditions and, importantly, local tide times – this could save your life.

The cause of 339 lifeboat launches in 2011 were to vessels with fouled propellers – an increase of nearly 17% on 2010; most of the fouling was caused by discarded ropes and nets, which is surprising and disappointing given the importance attached to environmental protection.

The busiest year for RNLI lifeboats was 2009 when the charity launched lifeboats 9,223 times, and 8,731 in 2010, which was the third busiest year for lifeboats.

RNLI Saunter on Sands

Eighteen fundraisers and friends from the Barmouth Branch of the RNLI met at the Lifeboathouse on Saturday morning, 28th January for a sponsored “Saunter on the Sands” to raise money for the RNLI’s SOS day – their biggest fundraising day. The 4½ mile walk took them over the barrage to the Perch and along the shoreline to Llanaber and back on a bright but cold day. On their return to the Boathouse they were treated to a warming bowl of soup and a crusty roll.

Between them they have raised over £500 and there is still more to come in. The money will go towards the purchase of new lifejackets special designed for RNLI volunteer crews across Wales. Individual stations have been asked to raise a target sum towards the provision of this vital lifesaving kit; Barmouth’s being £4,500. Already, thanks to the unstinting generosity of the local community they are already well on their way to reaching this target.

Charity cycle ride in June 2012

Darren Wilkes and his cyclist friends will again be riding from Wyrley in Staffordshire to Barmouth this year raising funds for the RNLI.  This will be the tenth time they have undertaken the 107 mile trip and over the years they have raised between £300 and £1200 for their favourite charity.

The cyclists will be leaving Staffordshire at 0630 am on Saturday the 23rd June and hope to arrive at the RNLI Boathouse in Barmouth between 3 and 5 pm the same day. Please come along and support them if you can.

Making a Splash for Barmouth RNLI - January 2012

It was a record turnout for Barmouth RNLI’s annual New Year’s Day dip into the freezing waters of Cardigan Bay on Sunday morning.  Over 40 people of all ages took the plunge to raise money for their favourite charity.  But this year it wasn’t just the crew and friends, they were joined by visitors from far and wide.  The Bradley family from Kinver in the West Midlands came down especially for the occasion and had been busy collecting sponsorship for weeks before Christmas. There was a lot of good-humoured fun as holidaymakers and local residents turned out to watch the volunteer crew, some dressed as Father Christmas, Superwoman and Scooby-Doo.

The crew and supporters are extremely grateful to local businesses and members of the Barmouth community for their unstinting generosity, enabling substantial amounts to be collected by some individuals.  Young Molly Allday of Wrexham, grand daughter of former coxswain Keith Allday, raised £62.10 with her cousin Cerys Butterfield. 

12 year-old Kieran Clarke, who holidays with his family each year in Barmouth, presented Coxswain Peter Davies with £40 for RNLI funds.  This was made up of a sum of money that Kieran had found several months ago, it was unclaimed and Keiran was able to keep it after the required passage of time.  He was very keen that the money went to the RNLI.  Such support and enthusiasm in one so young is to be commended.

A total of over £2,500 was raised in sponsorship monies; this will go towards the RNLI’s ‘Lifejackets for Lifesavers’ campaign.  Their new innovative all-weather and inshore lifejackets have been designed specifically to meet the RNLI’s current search and rescue operational requirements, allowing greater freedom of movement while for volunteer crews rescuing people.  Each station is asked to make a special effort to raise a target sum and this will directly help crews to save lives at sea in years to come.

The canon was again fired at noon in remembrance of past crew members and a warming barbecue brunch was served in the Lifeboat station.