RNLI statement following UK Prime Minster announcement on 10 May

Many people will want to visit the coast and participate in water-based activities such as swimming, kayaking, surfing, boating and angling. At present there are no RNLI lifeguards on beaches and although our volunteer lifeboat crews are fully operational, should they be needed, it is important that anyone visiting the coast understands the risk and takes the necessary steps to keep themselves safe. This will also help to reduce the demands placed on our lifeboat crews and other emergency services including HM Coastguard. In this way we can all work together to succeed in ensuring the coast is a safe place to visit. We would urge anyone planning a visit to the coast to follow RNLI safety advice: Take care near cliffs - know your route and your limitations Have a plan - check the weather forecast and tide times If you fall into the water unexpectedly, FLOAT TO LIVE. Fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and Float If individuals are choosing to go sailing or yachting it is important to ensure that equipment is properly checked and serviceable before going afloat. In any coastal emergency dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. 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 over 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 142,700 lives. Learn more about the RNLI For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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 or by email.

On Course - Episode 3

Royal Corinthian Sailing Club in Burnham donates 65 Easter eggs to the NHS

Officers at a sailing club donated over 65 Easter eggs to NHS staff. Flag officers at The Corinthian Otters, the junior sailing club within the Royal Corinthian Sailing Club in Burnham, donated the eggs to hard working staff at Basildon Hospital. The eggs were originally planned to be used for the annual Otter’s Easter egg hunt but the club didn’t want them to go to waste. The eggs were given nurses and patients in the Neonatel Unit, and Children and Maternity wards. One nurse said: “They are much appreciated as eating is not much of a priority on the shift at present, so, thank you to the Otters.”

Green and pleasant land

INCREASED FUNDING AVAILABLE FROM SPORT ENGLAND - Funding Friday with RYA...

PLANNING A SAFE RETURN TO BOATING - Club Development with RYA Club Zone

‘Please help us to keep her sailing’: Excelsior launches crowdfunding campaign

Excelsior Trust, who look after the historic Lowestoft-based sailing smack Excelsior, is aiming to raise funds to keep the 99-year-old iconic smack sailing. With the crew currently in lockdown on board the sailing smack, they have been using the time to put together a campaign that will hopefully ensure the future of this important part of our local heritage. Lockdown has meant that Excelsior has not been able to head out to sea with the groups of young people that were due to sail on her and this means a significant loss of annual income. The crowdfunding campaign has been unveiled to fill the financial hole left by coronavirus cancellations of its voyages. The charity has had to find its own way to maintain its traditional skills and ensure that young people will still be able to experience life on board. Excelsior has taken nearly 10,000 young people to sea over 30 years as a charitable trust and many of them return as adults bringing their own groups on board. At 77ft long, LT 472 Excelsior is the last working fishing smack to be sailing out of Lowestoft. Excelsior was built in 1921 and launched in Lowestoft as a fishing trawler – part of the town’s 300-strong fishing fleet. The smack was rescued from Norway in the early 1980s, where she’d been discovered working as a motor barge, and she was brought back to Oulton Broad to be fully and authentically restored as a working smack. In 1988 Excelsior was re-commissioned as a sail-training vessel by HRH The Princess Royal. The Excelsior Trust chairman, Jamie Campbell, said: “A trip on Excelsior is often a life-changing experience giving young people the opportunity to become part of the crew and learning new skills. “Many East Anglians will be familiar with the distinctive sight of our lovely old lady off our coast and further afield. “We are determined not to lose her as a result of Covid-19. “Please help us to keep her sailing”. For further details visit www.theexcelsiortrust.co.uk call 0845 308 2323 or to pledge support to the crowdfunding campaign visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/excelsior-trust

Visually impaired sailors - Interview with David Owen

SAIL SMARTS 5 - WIND - KIDS LOCKDOWN ACTIVITY - SAIL FROM HOME

Rigging and Sail Tuning - Enterprise Dinghy

Team updates for 36th America’s Cup

• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL): The lockdown in NZ cost the team about six calendar weeks of sailing time. Their first AC75 was already en route to Italy when the Cagliari AC World Series was cancelled, and the yacht is still in Italy. Construction of their second AC75 was held up for five weeks and restarted on Tuesday 28 April. They resumed on-the-water development with their 12 meter test boat Te Kahu (The Hawk) on 29 April. • Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA): Luna Rossa made repairs to their AC75 after losing the bowsprit the last time they trained. They have now installed electric motors in their AC75 to replace six grinders so they could resume on the water testing while respecting distancing requirements. • New York YC American Magic (USA): American Magic has not sailed either their test “mule” or their AC75 Defiant since mid March. The AC75 was packed for shipping to Cagliari and then re-commissioned for sailing when the ACWS was cancelled. They will begin sailing again when they deem it safe. In the meantime construction of Boat 2 continues in Rhode Island. They plan to air freight Boat 2 to Auckland in late August. Defiant will likely go by ship to Auckland – a 35 day journey. • INEOS Team UK (GBR): The team has not sailed since moving back to Portsmouth from Sardinia. We can be sure that the sailors are spending a lot of time on their AC75 simulator and in the gym. It’s likely that their Boat 2 is well advanced in construction.

Boys rescued from sailing boat out at sea near Hengistbury Head

A LIFEBOAT crew resuced two boys from a sailing boat that had no rudder or sail and was drifting out to sea. Emergency services rushed to assist the dinghy hull that was around a quarter of a mile from Hengistbury Head on Friday night when the RNLI Mudeford Lifeboat reached the stricken vessel. The crew found two youths, aged 15 and 16, in the boat. They had paddled out to sea, however, they had lost the paddle overboard. Neither of the teenagers was wearing a life jacket. It was reported that they were being swept out in the direction of Swanage. The lifeboat successfully located the pair following reports of the incident at 8.18pm yesterday. The boys were brought aboard the RNLI Mudeford Servant and they were wrapped in a thermal protective layer to keep them warm. The crew returned the vessel and its passengers to Mudeford Quay. Once on dry land, Southbourne Coastguard provided first aid and casualty care as well as safety advice. Dorset Police and South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust were also in attendance on the shore. A member of the RNLI Mudeford team said: "The RNLI crew follow strict procedures during COVID19. "Not only do the crew put themselves in danger to assist others, once the shout is completed they spend hours thoroughly disinfecting the lifeboat, lifeboat station and all casualty equipment. This ensures the equipment and environment are safe and ready for the next crew and any possible casualties." Windsurfers, kitesurfers and swimmers have all been seen in the harbour and off Mudeford and Highcliffe beaches recently, according to the lifeboat crew. RNLI Mudeford Lifeboat requests that the public follow the government’s advice and stay out of the water at this time.

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