Looe Lifeboat Crew Strengthens Team: Five More Volunteers Earn Navigator Qualifications

Looe, Cornwall – The Looe RNLI volunteer crew has proudly added five new qualified navigators to its team, with members Amber, Alex, Jonty, Nathaniel, and Will, successfully completing their navigation assessments on the 23rd October. They join colleagues Aaron, Goron, Richard, and Victoria, who achieved the same qualifications earlier this month.

Rigorous Assessment Day

The assessments, held on Wednesday 23rd October 2024, were conducted by RNLI Assessor and Trainer Carl Beardmore, who spent the entire day at Looe Lifeboat Station. The day included a written exam and a sea exercise designed to test both the theoretical and practical skills required for navigation. Each crew member passed their assessment, marking a significant accomplishment for Looe RNLI.

New Navigator Role for Crew

The new navigator role, established under the RNLI’s Operational Competency Framework launched at the start of the year, bridges the gap between Tier 2 crew (formerly known as competent crew) and Helm. To align with these updates, Looe RNLI decided to train all Tier 2 crew members as navigators, enhancing the station’s operational capability.

Senior Helm Clive Palfrey played an instrumental role in yesterday’s training, joining Carl Beardmore for over three and a half hours at sea to supervise the practical tasks. Support on shore was provided by Mitch, Dave, and Ian, who assisted in launching and recovering Looe’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, the Sheila and Dennis Tongue II.

Dedication and Hard Work Rewarded

During the debrief, Clive commended the crew’s dedication and hard work over the summer in preparing for these assessments. Their accomplishment signifies a step forward for the Looe RNLI team, who continually train to provide the highest level of service to the community.

Photo: Looe RNLI crew with assessor / trainer Carl Beardmore after yesterday’s navigation assessments – Left to right, Alex, Amber, Will, Carl, Clive, Jonty, Nathaniel and Dave – Photo credit: RNLI / Ian Foster