2010 Season Gets Off to a Triumphant Start

The 2010 season is well underway and our new flag system and duty roster is working well. The crew have been training hard, as they have throughout the winter, and have handled their first incidents of the year with the professionalism and aplomb that we have come to expect of them. Some of our new helmsmen got their first experience in command of a live situation and did us proud.

We have also been very active on the fundraising and public relations front. There is a new range of RBRB merchandise on sale in the village (the 2010 collection) thanks to a newly formed merchandising sub-committee who have been out and about touting the wares and doing a smashing job.

In the picture, left, the Spirit of Runswick is on display at the annual Triumph rally at Runswick Bay Campsite on the weekend of 14th-16th May 2010 where the 2010 collection was on sale. Left to right, is Julie Metcalfe (merchandising), Lottie, Sarah Arnold (merchandising and Crew), Ben Metcalfe (Helmsman) and Lewis, Tom Bottomley (Helmsman) and Max, Tom Dobson (Helmsman), our winner of the dry suit competition, Andy 'the hat' Monaghan (Crew Leader) and Tom Glasby (Helmsman). Behind the camera is Claire Bottomley, the third member of the merchandising team.

A mention must go to Tom Dobson (yes, there are a lot of Tom's) who carried out his first two rescues as Helmsman on the weekend of 5th-6th June 2010. It was a busy weekend on the beach and, in addition to the usual range of questions and assists, there were two instances of early season, over-wintered, engines playing hard ball with their owners on first outing. The weather was reasonably clement and there was no immediate risk to life or limb but this remains an essential part of the service that RBRB provides to the many users of the coastal waters around Runswick Bay.

Now would also be a good time to make a plug or two for upcoming events - do please make a note in your diaries of the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat Weekend which will take place on 6th-8th August 2010. There are still a few tickets available for the Beef Supper on the Friday evening (although they are selling fast) and there will be the usual display and stalls and, back by popular demand, the bell boat race. We hear Her Majesty's Coastguard may be entering a team this year.