Lifeboat crews will host a mock rescue and safety demonstrations in Whitby this weekend as part of the annual RNLI Flags fundraising event.
Mock rescues, safety demonstrations, and fundraising stalls will take over Whitby this weekend for the annual RNLI Flags event.
Lifeboat crews and coastguard teams will gather in the town to raise vital funds and share essential water safety advice with the public. The weekend's activities will feature a range of attractions for visitors, including a cake stall, a tombola, a book stall, and even merchandise such as dog bandanas.
Organisers are hoping that favourable weather and a busy schedule of other events in Whitby will draw large crowds to the waterfront, boosting donations for the lifesaving charity.
Richard Dowson is the Senior Station Technician at Whitby Lifeboat Station. He outlined what visitors can expect over the weekend:
"Ultimately we're out there to fundraise, but also awareness of the charity. Obviously, raise our flag, raise our presence. We'll have stalls, Tombola, cake stall, they're selling book stall, there's dog bandanas, we have a water safety stand there with the coast guards with the there, we'll have a presence. And yeah, just ultimately raising awareness of what the RNLI's work is, but also raising some funds along the way. Fingers crossed the weather is okay. I keep checking the forecast, that obviously helps with the crowds that we're getting with be this time of year. We also coincide with some other events that are in the town this weekend, but hopefully that'll just mean that brings more people into the town and uh and we have a successful weekend out of it. Come down and have a look."
A major highlight of the fundraising weekend will take place on Sunday afternoon when crews perform a live lifeboat demonstration. The display will showcase the capabilities of the vessels and the highly trained skills of the volunteers who operate them.
Crews from neighbouring stations will also join the Whitby team. The Staithes lifeboat and a rescue boat from Runswick Bay will participate in the display, demonstrating how the different coastal rescue units coordinate seamlessly during emergencies at sea.
Alongside the dramatic rescue displays, a dedicated water safety team will be on hand to distribute leaflets and share vital guidance. Experts will offer advice on how to stay safe while visiting local beaches, walking along the coastal paths, or exploring beneath the cliffs.
Richard Dowson detailed the schedule for the mock rescue and explained how the public can interact with the crew:
"Most of the crew will be there. Be that whether they're rattling buckets or just generally engaging with the public. Questions can be asked, find out about the work that we do. We have our own little water safety team at the at the station. They'll be giving out water safety messaging, leaflets, things to look out for to keep yourself safe on the beach or if you're walking on the bottom of the cliffs or the coastal paths. At 3:00 PM on Sunday afternoon, we'll be doing a lifeboat demonstration. So, it'll be just like a little mock rescue and showing a little bit of the capabilities of the boat and things. We also have our flanking station to the north. Stay's lifeboat, they'll be in attendance, and there's a rescue boat at Runswick Bay. So they'll also be in attendance and showcasing a little bit of what they can do and just how we sometimes work together."
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