Today I thought I would bring you something a little different on the website, an article about the amazing volunteers for the Rhyl Lifeboat and a little history as well as information on the lifeboats that we have here in Rhyl.

So I’ll start by telling you about the boathouse that is situated not far from the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre.

The RNLI Rhyl Boathouse

In 2001 the current pupose-built Boathouse was opened , allowing both lifeboats to be kept in the same building along with the crews training facilities.

The Mercury class all-weather lifeboat, 12-24 Lil Cunningham, takes up the main area of the Boathouse, but the Mercury class is to be phased out and Shannon class introduced.

There isn’t any news as of yet when this will happen and if Rhyl will be allocated a Shannon class lifeboat.

[Tweet “Every year over 2,000 people visit the Rhyl Boathouse to learn about the community and sea-safety”]

The RNLI Rhyl Lifeboats

12-14 Lil Cunningham – All Weather Lifeboat

The RNLB Lil Cunningham has been in service for 20 years in Rhyl, she’s been given thousands of hours of care from the RNLI and the Rhyl Crew to keep her strong and sea-worthy to keep saving precious souls out at sea. Lil Cunningham has a top speed of 15 knots (17 MPH).

Rhyl are hoping that she will be replaced with a Shannon class lifeboat, a more modern jet propelled lifeboat that is slowly replacing the now phased-out Mersey class, but at the moment there is still no news on whether Rhyl will be getting another all-weather Lifeboat!

The all-weather capabilities give the lifeboat the added bonus of being able to self-righten, should it capsize on the rough waters.

The 11.62 metre lifeboat needs 6 crew to handle her and has a range of 240 nautical miles, she’s been saving souls at Rhyl since 1992 and I dare say that those that have been rescued by her have been so glad that she is based at the Rhyl Boathouse.

D-770 Mary Maxwell – Inshore Lifeboat

The dingy style D-770 is a fast little thing and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 25 knots (29 MPH), should the conditions allow top speed to be reached. Being a dingy style lifeboat, the limitations can decide on whether the boat can be used or not, very rough seas are not merciful to the boat or the crew members, so considerations have to be made when to use the D-770.

The Mary Maxwell launches with 3 crew members, led by the helmsman who is in charge of the boat, with the boat being so small each crew member has to multi-task to perform several required tasks.

The current D-770 has been stationed at Rhyl since 2014 and is equipped with the latest navigation system. Being such a small boat, all crew members are trained how to re-right the Lifeboat, such the time ever come to do so, luckily they haven’t had a situation where they have had to put it in to practice.

RNLI Rhyl Crew Training

The Rhyl crew meet up twice a week for their required training, most of the training happens in the Boathouse and the surrounding area and from time to time the crew go out to sea for the practical sea-based exercises.

With the North Wales coast having a high tide range, it is very important that all the crew members are able to work in such an environment, with a good understanding of the state of tide, tidal currents, and the times when the North Wales harbours and ports have enough water for access.

Not only is their station based training, but the crew make use of the specialist training that is provided by the RNLI in the facilities at the RNLI College in Poole, which include:

• new crew familiarisation
• boat handling
• navigation
• sea survival
• specialist mechanics courses
• driving in difficult environments
• boat management courses

[Tweet “The Rhyl Lifeboat crew like to help the community with sponsored events, tours and more”]

History of Rhyl Lifeboat

So let’s end this article with a little history about the Rhyl Lifboat, which has been part of Rhyl’s life since 1852 when Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariner’s Society placed a lifeboat in Rhyl.

The RNLI took over the station in 1854 and an all-weather lifeboat has been stationed at Rhyl ever since, they have been a key part of saving lives here in the North Wales coastline.

A inshore Lifboat has been stationed at Rhyl since 1967 which has allowed a faster rsponse time to those close to the shoreline that may be in distress.

For 21 years, 1878-1899, Rhyl also used to have a No.2 station.

[Tweet “In 1853 6 crew members tragically lost their lives in the Gwylan-Y-Mor Disaster off the coast Rhyl”]

A memorial for the 160th anniversary was placed in Rhyl for the six crew members that tragically lost there lives in the 1853 disaster, the wood sculpture designed by Mike Owens can be seen in front Sea Life centre, the lifeboat crew did a sponsored row from Rhyl to Llandudno, a distance of 28 nautical miles, to raise the funds for the sculpture.

Rhyl Lifeboat and Crew Saving Lives

Finishing this article I would like to say that the Rhyl Lifeboat crew do an outstanding job and I know that those that have been saved by the team are so glad that we have such an amazing and dedicated team here in Rhyl. As I mentioned earlier in this article the crew are all volunteers and all funding to keep our lifeboat is done via the fund-raising etc that they do, there is a fantastic shop next to the Boathouse that sells some great stuff to help support the station, I highly recommend popping in and showing your support.

The information for this article has been brought to you with the help of the Rhyl Lifeboat Crew, they have a fantastic Souvenir Guide available at the shop and you can pick one up while there, I highly recommend it, you’ll get to learn so much more about the Boathouse, Lifeboats and get to learn about the crew members and who they are all in one handy book, go on show your support and pick one up today.

You can also find out more about the Rhyl Lifeboat on their website at www.rhyl-lifeboat.co.uk as well as on Twitter and Facebook.