Rhiannon, Mike & Ray join Bude’s shore crew

Three more volunteers are now trained to help get a lifeboat to sea safely, whatever the hour or the weather. Rhiannon, Mike and Ray have officially passed out as shore crew at RNLI Bude Lifeboat Station, with the station reporting that all three passed with flying colours after months of intensive training and assessment.

The backbone of every launch

Shore crew are described as the backbone of every launch. Their job is to make sure the station’s D-class inshore lifeboat, Barbara Anne Bennett, and her crew get out to sea safely and efficiently, no matter the conditions or the time of day.

Much of that work happens out of sight of anyone watching from the beach. Someone has to help haul the boat to the water, handle the ropes and launching gear, and see the crew away safely, then do it all again when the boat comes back in.

Months of training behind three passes

Getting to that point takes months of intensive training and a series of assessments. RNLI shore crew across the country go through the same demanding process before they’re allowed anywhere near a live launch, and Bude’s newest three have now cleared every stage of it.

The station says the achievement makes its capability to save lives at sea “stronger than ever,” a result it puts down to the time, energy and dedication Rhiannon, Mike and Ray have put in over the past few months.

Welcome to the operational team.

📷Credit: RNLI Bude Lifeboat