Frequently asked questions
Thanks for thinking about Launching a Memory. Find answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Launch a Memory.
Due to Covid-19, all stations are currently closed to the public and we advise against travelling to the station to see the lifeboat. The Lifeboat is at the end of a pontoon and may not be visible from a distance. Once it is safe to do so, we will be inviting supporters to see the Lifeboat.
The boat will be available for the public to see on several occasions. If you have any questions about our station, or your lifeboat, please contact launchamemory@rnli.org.uk. As you can imagine, our volunteer crew at Clifden have a lot to juggle alongside being on call 24 hours a day - so we’d be really grateful if you could avoid contacting the station directly.
When the boat is being built in our All-weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC) building in Poole, it will be available to see as part of the ALC tours during the later build stage. Please note that the decal with all the names of loved ones sent in to Launch a Memory will not be applied until after this build stage. Please also note visibility of the boat during its construction will be partially obstructed by the bays due to the nature of it being a working factory. To find out more about the tours and for images inside the building please see the All-Weather Lifeboat Centre page. Due to COVID-19 there is a delay, and dates for the build stages have not yet been finalised. However, if you have provided us with your email address when submitting your loved one’s name then we will keep you updated on the lifeboat’s progress.
The lifeboat is scheduled to arrive at Clifden Lifeboat Station in 2022, but the exact date is yet to be confirmed (delays could occur due to Covid-19).
When the lifeboat arrives at Clifden station in 2022, supporters will be able to visit the lifeboat and the Lifeboat station but this is yet to be confirmed. It is unlikely that you will be able to get close enough to the lifeboat to read the names on the decal and we cannot guarantee that the lifeboat will be visible to view all the time as it may be involved in a rescue, training, maintenance or other activity. However, there will be opportunities to see photographs and videos of the boat through our social media channels, on our Launch a Memory website page and in supporter publications including Lifeboat magazine.
There will also be opportunities to see the lifeboat in Poole (England) before the boat leaves for Clifden. We will update supporters when we have more definitive timings.