Torbay RNLI lifeboat crew to 'give it some welly' on Saturday 6 May!

Volunteer crews from Torbay Lifeboat Station – ably assisted by members of Brixham Gig Club - will be at St Mary’s beach (near Brixham) to accept a relay baton in the form of a bright Yellow Welly boot (part of lifeboat crew uniform) from a Dartmouth RNLI representative. The volunteer lifeboat crews are taking part in the national Mayday fundraising drive in conjunction with Brixham Gig Club who will help with this event, and with training for the RNLI rowers on board. Brixham Gig Club ladies’ crew have also challenged the RNLI rowers to a race to help boost fundraising totals!

The RNLI’s national Mayday campaign begins on Monday 1 May and will run for the whole month, with fundraising events taking place across the UK and Ireland. This year, the RNLI hopes to raise £750,000 through Mayday, which will be used to fund essential kit for the charity’s brave volunteer lifeboat crews.

The Yellow Welly will then be rowed (aboard the gig and accompanied by the all-weather lifeboat) to Torbay lifeboat station, where visitors will be able to purchase delicious cakes and browse the RNLI Brixham Guild Yellow Welly souvenir stand. At every stop, the public will be able to go aboard the impressive Severn Class lifeboat Alec & Christina Dykes (whilst the gig rowers catch their breath!).

The volunteer crews will then leave aboard the gig and lifeboat, taking the all-important footwear to the next point in the relay, Haldon Pier Torquay for a further stop, then finally the Welly will depart for Babbacombe Pier on the final leg (pardon the pun!) where the rubbery baton will be handed over to a representative for onward relay to Teignmouth lifeboat station.

Full details of the Torbay relay stages are:

Saturday 6 May 2017

10.00am:

Torbay’s leg of the relay begins at St Mary's beach with RNLI Torbay all-weather lifeboat and Brixham Gig rowers present for handover from Dartmouth crew’s representative

11.00am:

All-weather lifeboat and gig crews arrive at Torbay Lifeboat Station (Brixham) with Yellow Welly. Gig crew rest for 30 minutes before leaving for Haldon Pier, Torquay at 11.30am. All-weather lifeboat open to public 11.00am and 12.00 noon; RNLI Brixham Guild cakes and souvenirs on sale

12.30pm:

Yellow Welly arrives at Haldon Pier, Torquay in the gig accompanied by the all-weather lifeboat. Gig rowers rest for 30 minutes before leaving for Babbacombe Quay at 1.00pm. Lifeboat open to the public 12.30 - 1.30pm, when it departs for Babbacombe. RNLI Brixham Guild Yellow Welly souvenirs on sale

2.30pm:

Yellow Welly arrives with volunteer RNLI Torbay lifeboat and Brixham gig crews at Babbacombe Quay to be handed over to a representative for the next relay section. All-weather lifeboat open to public 2.00-3.30pm, Yellow Welly souvenirs on sale

Notes to editors

• For more information on the RNLI’s national May Day fundraising day, visit: https://rnli.org/mayday
• Please note that this regional event may be subject to change due to weather / sea conditions on the day
  
• RNLI Torbay all-weather lifeboat will remain available for operational duty throughout this event
  
• Photographs:
  
• Torbay all-weather lifeboat Alec & Christina Dykes (credit: RNLI/Nigel Millard)
• RNLI Yellow Wellies (credit: RNLI/Simon Moss)

Torbay Lifeboat Station Key Facts:

• Torbay lifeboat station has been operating since 1866. To learn more about the station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/torbay-lifeboat-station
• Coxswain of Torbay Lifeboat is Mark Criddle; Second Coxswain is Richard Fowler
• Further information on Torbay Lifeboat Station’s local activities can be found at: http://www.torbaylifeboat.co.uk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rnlitorbay
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RNLITorbay

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Victoria Bowen, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07794 043 428 - [email protected], or contact Amy Caldwell, RNLI Public Relations Manager (South) on 07920 818 807 - [email protected] or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.