Whitby’s RNLI station is shaping up for a busy summer with two of its most important events taking place next month – as well as making sure people enjoy summer at the seaside safely.
The annual Blessing of the Boats ceremony will take place on Sunday July 12 and is a traditional fishing industry service from years gone by but now, as well as local trawlers and fishermen, it invites the lifeboats, yacht club and rowing clubs to be involved.
The Vicar of Whitby, Father Michael Gobbett will lead the service and says it dates back at least to the 1950s.
Plans are also being put in place for the annual flag weekend in Whitby across July 25 and 26.
Throughout the weekend there will be tombolas, cake stalls, opportunities to meet the Whitby crew and lifeboat demonstrations in the harbour.
Members of the Lotus Owners Club and the Subaru Owners Club will be bringing their vehicles to the town over the weekend which the public are welcome to go and look at.
However, as the weekend is about raising money for the RNLI and to ensure Whitby’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats are there if people need them, there will be collection buckets and opportunities to donate too.
Crew kit and protective clothing (around £1,000 per crew member), boat maintenance, fuel and other life-saving equipment are all purchased thanks to donations.
Richard Dowson, Whitby’s coxswain and senior station technician, said: “The annual flag weekend is our one weekend where the crew and people associated with the lifeboat and the station come together to raise funds for the RNLI.”
Richard also shared some safety tips ahead of the station’s busiest period and the summer season.
This time of year sees lots of walkers and beach-goers being caught out and cut off by incoming tides, so he is urging people to check tide times and keep in mind how fast water can come in.
Swimmers are asked to stay within life-guarded areas for extra protection while in the water, as last year RNLI lifeguards aided 36,213 people on the beach across the service.
If you find yourself struggling in the water, or if you fall in unexpectedly use the Float to Live technique. Relax and try to breathe normally. Tilt your head back and submerge your ears. Use your hands to help you stay afloat. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.
Cold water shock, not just at sea but in lakes, rivers and reservoirs is also a serious danger to summer swimmers as water temperatures don’t rise as much as air temperatures.
The sudden cooling of the skin by cold water causes an involuntary gasp for breath. Breathing rates can change uncontrollably, leading to panic and increasing the chance of inhaling water directly into the lungs.
RNLI advice is to take a minute as the initial effects of cold water pass in less than a minute so don’t try to swim straight away.
Relax and Float to Live. Keep calm then call for help or swim for safety if you’re able.
