St Agnes RNLI welcomes new volunteer helm

With Dan now qualified to command the station’s inshore lifeboat (ILB), St Agnes RNLI now has four volunteer helms and two more in training, ready to answer the call to save lives at sea. Operating on a D-class inshore lifeboat is challenging for all the crew members, particularly in the surf conditions typical of Trevaunance Cove. But special responsibilities rest on the shoulders of the helm - they are in command of the vessel and must ensure the safety of its crew at all times, while making on the spot decisions as a rescue develops.

Training to become a helm requires many hours at sea, practicing for every eventuality as well as plenty of theory to support safe lifeboat operations. Helms must be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations of operating at sea and critically need to be able to navigate and communicate in difficult conditions.

Dan commented: 'Being a helm is so much more that being in command and driving the boat. There’s a lot of theory, rules and regs to learn too. I’m immensely proud just to be a part of the lifeboat crew and a part of the RNLI family, I feel a massive sense of pride in what we do as a station, especially every time the boat launches on service.'

Dan knows that the training never stops. He and all the other volunteer crew train at least once every week throughout the year, so that they are ready and able to respond to their pagers 365 days a year. Not one to rest on his laurels Dan added: 'Passing out is only the beginning, the learning journey has only just begun.'

If you are interested in the training that our RNLI volunteers do to become competent crew, visit the RNLI website at https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/lifeboat-crew-training

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 142,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.