RNLI lifeboat crews come together for joint training exercise in Loch Ryan
On Sunday 19 February RNLI crews from Portpatrick, Stranraer and Girvan met at the entrance to Loch Ryan for the first joint exercise of 2023.
Getting together for joint exercises with RNLI lifeboat crews from flanking stations provides an opportunity for crews to work together as a team and practice manoeuvres which they may be required to carry out in real life situations and often in extreme conditions.
Andy Ross, Coxswain on board Portpatrick RNLI All-weather lifeboat Tamar Class The John Buchanan Barr during the exercise said ‘Sunday’s exercise was extremely valuable for all the crews involved. Training with flanking stations is really important, because when the pager sounds we are all one crew and have to work together to save lives at sea.'
The exercise was photographed and filmed by local drone pilot Mark Simpson of Scarlett Visuals and Kathleen Milby of Colfin Captures who both turned out to support our crews and produced some incredible footage and photographs.
Robert McQueen full time Coxswain at Portpatrick RNLI Lifeboat station remarked ‘It was extremely kind of Kathleen and Mark to come out and support our training exercise. The resulting footage and photographs that have been shared on social media have caused a lot of excitement amongst the crews as well as our followers and supporters. I know I not only speak on behalf of the team here at Portpatrick RNLI, but also those at Girvan and Stranraer in thanking both of them for their time and effort’.
Mark and Kathleen have both agreed to sell prints of their photographs taken during the exercise and for each print sold they will make a donation to the RNLI. To see more of their photographs and purchase the images you can contact them via their Facebook pages Scarlett Visuals and Colfin Captures. More images from the exercise can also be seen on the Portpatrick Lifeboat Facebook page.
It is public support that allows the RNLI to continue to save lives at sea and our volunteers need your support to fund their training and equipment.
To make a donation to the RNLI visit RNLI.org/support-us/give-money/donate
Notes to editors
· Portpatrick lifeboat station has been operating since 1877. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/portpatrick-lifeboat-station
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RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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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 142,700 lives.
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