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The RNLI has developed two travelling sea safety roadshows to tour the UK and Republic of Ireland this summer, and one is due to visit a big maritime event in Fleetwood next month. The exterior of the magnificent 40ft trailer looks like a Severn class lifeboat while the interior walk-through interactive display demonstrates just how quickly sea conditions can change. It aims to show how, with simple precautions, beach and sea users can remain safe. A smaller 20ft trailer which looks like an Atlantic 75 lifeboat is also on tour with similar messages. The small trailer will be the one featured in Fleetwood during the town's Fish and Ships Festival over the weekend of 1-2 July. It will be parked at the end of the fish quay and open to the public between 10am and 6pm on both days. 'The sea safety initiative aims to prevent people getting into trouble on the water and offers free sea safety advice, passing on over 175 years of lifesaving experience' says Peter Bradley, the RNLI's National Sea Safety Manager. 'Our new roadshows will highlight the dangers of the sea while offering practical advice on how to avoid them and stay safe.' 'During this last Easter weekend alone, 40% of the RNLI's fleet had to launch, mainly to leisure craft users, so it is as vital as ever that we endeavour to educate sea users right across the UK and Republic of Ireland.' The roadshows are the brainchild of the RNLI's Sea Safety section and the 40ft show utilises the same trailer which so successfully toured from Greenock to Brighton during 1999 to celebrate the charity's 175th anniversary, but with a completely redesigned interior. Last year's roadshow was visited or seen by 100,000 people but, with more venues and with a second 20ft trailer donated by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd also touring during the summer, it is hoped to double this exposure. Coincidentally, this summer sees the first anniversary of the RNLI's SEA Check service which offers free face-to-face advice for all leisure boat owners at their request. To date, over 3,000 people have requested SEA Checks, and at all the roadshow venues there will be the chance to sign up for a free SEA Check and to talk to RNLI SEA Checkers. During the first week of July the large roadshow goes across the sea to Belfast and, from there, makes its way across the border into the Republic stopping in Co.Donegal, Dublin and Cork. Travelling back into Wales, the roadshow stops at the Royal Welsh Show and continues up the west coast to Blackpool. At the beginning of August it travels to Scotland stopping in Oban before moving on to Sunderland. It completes its tour in the middle of August at Cromer. The 20ft roadshow goes from Fleetwood in July on to RAF Chivenor and
RNAS Culdrose. It's back on home territory in Weymouth, Poole and Bournemouth
Football Club later in July and then at Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight. It
finishes its tour at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Tamworth where there is an
RNLI wet knuckle ride already pulling in the crowds. |
