Runswick Bay Rescue Boat
| Runswick Bay Rescue Boat | |
|---|---|
 Runswick Bay Rescue Boat House | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Lifeboat Station |
| Address | The Lifeboathouse |
| Town or city | Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire, TS13 5HT |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 54°31′59.3″N 0°44′59.9″W / 54.533139°N 0.749972°W |
| Opened | 1982 |
| Owner | Runswick Bay Rescue Boat |
| Website | |
| Runswick Bay Rescue Boat | |
Runswick Bay Rescue Boat operates out of the former RNLI Tractor shed, and is located in the village of Runswick Bay, in the county of North Yorkshire, in England.
Runswick Lifeboat Station was opened here in 1866 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The station remained in operation until 1978, when the All-weather lifeboat was withdrawn, and the former station at nearby Staithes was reopened as an Inshore lifeboat station.[1]
A rescue service was re-established in 1982 by the locally formed Runswick Bay Rescue Boat Association (RBRB).[2]
RBRB currently operate a 4.8 m (16 ft) Ribcraft RIB, Spirit of Nagar, on station since 2020.[2]
History
[edit]After the RNLI withdrew the Runswick lifeboat in 1978, and placed an Inshore lifeboat at Staithes, it was felt that due to the popularity of the bay, particularly in the holiday season, there would need some sort of rescue cover. A meeting was held in 1980, and the local population at Runswick Bay set about to raise £4000 for their own rescue boat.[3]
With loans and a bank overdraft, a 16 ft (4.9 m) Humber Semi-Rigid Inflatable Inshore lifeboat (S-RIB) was purchased, similar to the RNLI D-class. Equipped with safety equipment and VHF radio, and with a 40 hp Mariner engine, the boat was named Claymoor. The boat was only on service during the summer season, and is housed in the former RNLI tractor storage shed.[4][5][6]
Almost immediately, the boat proved its worth. The boat was called out 12 times in the first year, and at least 2 lives were saved. In the second year, determined fundraising managed to clear the loans and overdraft. The boat was called nine times in 1983. Claymoor would be called 35 times during her four seasons on station.[3]
Claymoor was retired in 1986, and a slightly larger 17 ft (5.2 m) boat was acquired, to be named Christine Appleton, in memory of the late wife of the RBRB secretary. Christine Appleton would be called upon 30 times during a five-year period on service.[2]
Following several winter time incidents in the Bay, in 1987, it was decided to extend the normal Easter to October period of operation, to all-year-round cover. This placed a great pressure on a few personnel, and with a later decline in local activity, the decision was taken to return to seasonal cover in 2005.[2]
In 1991, the RBRB received official recognition from H.M. Coastguard, when it was made a fully declared asset within the sea rescue organisation. This means that H.M. Coastguard recognise that the station has specific equipment, and all crew have received a required level of training, in order that they can then be reliably called upon to provide rescue services.[7]
The RBRB works alongside the RNLI to provide a rescue service in Runswick Bay, particularly along the shoreline where the larger rescue boats have trouble getting in close.[8]
Runswick Bay Rescue Boats
[edit]| Name | In service[2] | Type | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claymoor | 1982–1985 | 16 ft (4.9 m) Humber S-RIB | [Note 1][5] |
| Christine Appleton | 1986–1991 | 17 ft (5.2 m) Humber S-RIB | [Note 2] |
| Lady Normanby | 1992–2000 | 17 ft (5.2 m) Humber S-RIB | [Note 3] |
| Enita Margaret | 2000–2006 | 18 ft (5.5 m) Humber S-RIB | [Note 4] |
| Spirit of Runswick | 2007–2010 | 5 m (16 ft) Humber Assault RIB | [Note 5] |
| Spirit II | 2011–2020 | 4.2 m (14 ft) Gemini Marine GRX420 S-RIB | [Note 6] |
| Freebird Fojt | 2015– | 4.2 m (14 ft) Gemini Marine GRX420 S-RIB | [Note 7] |
| Spirit of Nagar | 2020– | 4.8 m (16 ft) Ribcraft S-RIB | [Note 8] |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ 16 ft (4.9 m) Humber Semi-rigid Inflatable, with single 40hp Mariner engine.
- ^ 17 ft (5.2 m) Humber Semi-rigid Inflatable, with single 40hp Mariner engine.
- ^ 17 ft (5.2 m) Humber 'Deep V' Semi-rigid Inflatable, with single 55hp Mercury engine.
- ^ 187 ft (57 m) Humber 'Deep V' Semi-rigid Inflatable, with single 55hp Mercury engine.
- ^ 5.0 m (16.4 ft) Humber Assault RIB, with single 50hp Mariner engine.
- ^ 4.2 m (14 ft) Gemini Marine GRX420 catamaran-hull Semi-rigid Inflatable, with single 50hp Mariner engine.
- ^ 4.2 m (14 ft) Gemini Marine GRX420 catamaran-hull Semi-rigid Inflatable, with single 50hp Mariner engine.
- ^ 4.8 m (16 ft) Ribcraft Semi-rigid Inflatable, with single 50hp Mariner engine.
References
[edit]- ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.
- ^ a b c d e "History". Runswick Bay Rescue Boat. RBRB Association. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ a b Robinson, Chris (July 1984). "The Foresight of Man, and the Birth of the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat". North East Times County Magazine.
- ^ Leach 2018, p. 113.
- ^ a b McGrath, Peter (20 September 2012). "All in a day's work for rescue boat of Runswick Bay". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ Chrystal 2012, p. 40.
- ^ "Who's who in search and rescue? Your questions answered". H. M. Coastguard. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ Edwards, John (28 November 2018). "Runswick Bay rescue crew receive donation which will make a 'huge difference'". The Whitby Gazette. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
Sources
[edit]- Chrystal, Paul (2012). Lifeboat Stations of North East England; From Sunderland to The Humber, Through Time. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN 978-1-4456-1376-5.
- Leach, Nicholas (2018). The Lifeboat Service in England; the North East Coast, Station by Station. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN 978-1-4456-6832-1.