Nearly time to welcome Torbay’s all-weather lifeboat home!
RNLI Torbay coxswain Mark Criddle has been in the Isle of Wight this week, looking at all the changes and improvements made to Torbay’s own all-weather lifeboat 17-28 Alec and Christina Dykes before her homecoming, planned for Saturday 24 February.*
Numerous updates have been made to the Severn Class lifeboat since she left for her refit on Sunday 8 October, the main one being a complete engine refit. Previously, the Severn Class lifeboat had twin 12-cylinder semi-electronic Caterpillar engines both giving 1250 horsepower, but she now boasts two fully-electronic MTU engines each capable of delivering an impressive 1600 horsepower.
Sea trials have gone well this week, and with a full service, check of all equipment and spruce up using the familiar RNLI orange and navy blue livery (but now with black antifoul paint instead of the former red) she is at last ready to come home.
Coxswain Mark has been familiarising with all the improvements and the new (quite different) controls during sea trials, before he and five volunteer crew (expected to be mechanics Simon James and Gary Fletcher, a further engineer and station mechanic Ash McInally) bring her back to her Brixham mooring (all being well) in around one week’s time.
During the refit, full search and rescue capacity for Torbay was maintained with relief lifeboat Volunteer Spirit working alongside Torbay’s D-Class lifeboat also stationed at Brixham, Leslie & Mary Daws. Volunteer Spirit has undertaken some sterling work during her stay (including the rough weather exercise on 7 January, when she diverted to assist trawler Holly Ann) but the crew and support team will certainly be delighted to have Alec & Christina home.
The considerable cost of the engine refit alone demonstrates just how vital fundraising is in keeping the Bay’s lifeboats fully up to date and operational – a huge thank you to all our fantastic supporters! Watch out for a full feature covering RNLI Torbay all-weather lifeboat’s homecoming soon.
*Please note that the scheduled arrival date of 24 February may be subject to change
Notes to editors
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
- 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
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For more information please telephone Victoria Bowen, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07794 043 428: [email protected] or contact Carrie Garrad, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 07786 668 847: [email protected] or alternatively RNLI Public Relations at Poole HQ on 01202 336 789.
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.
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