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Rain-stays-off-for-another-successful-Tobermory-RNLI-Lifeboat-Day

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Byline: After a week of unrelenting wet and windy weather, the rain stayed away for Tobermory’s Lifeboat Day. And during the final preparations the previous evening, the volunteer crew were called away to assist a stricken yacht in the Sound of Iona.
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The hardworking organisers of Tobermory RNLI’s annual Lifeboat Day were hugely relieved to awake on the morning of Sunday 14th August to find that the rain had finally stopped falling. A few hours later, there were big crowds at the event being treated to a range of stalls, games and activities – and of course, the raft race which was won this year by the Tobermory Guides. Even school children, who were no doubt dreading the new term starting in just a few days, had an opportunity to ‘sponge the teacher’ with local schoolteachers, Kirsty and Kirsten attempting to dodge the wet sponges being so enthusiastically thrown by some of their pupils.
Just a few hours previously, Tobermory RNLI’s volunteer crew launched at 1811 to go to the assistance of a yacht dragging its anchor in the Bull Hole in the Sound of Iona. The yacht was unable to use its engine as it had overheated. On arrival at the scene, the yacht had managed to get underway and was heading to the shelter of Tinker’s Hole. The lifeboat escorted the yacht and once it was confirmed that it was securely at anchor and the skipper was happy, the volunteer crew headed back to Tobermory where the lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service shortly after 2200.
Tobermory RNLI Coxswain David McHaffie said: ‘We’re still gathering in the funds but over £4000 was raised to help save lives at sea. Thanks to everyone for their generosity and we hope you had as much fun as we did. Thanks too to all the stall holders, businesses and individuals who so kindly donated prizes and things to sell, as well as to our colleagues from the Fire Brigade and Tobermory Coastguard who attended with their equipment and also to our hosts, the Tobermory Harbour Association. We’re also grateful yet again to Alasdair McCrone and Alasdair Satchell for their witty and energetic commentary. Finally, we’d also like to thank our RNLI shop volunteers who took more than £700 on the day and particularly our amazing Fundraising Branch who have been working and planning hard behind the scenes for many months to ensure that today was a huge success.’
Notes to editors
The photograph shows Tobermory RNLI Coxswain David McHaffie with local teacher and Tobermory RNLI Education Officer, Kirsty Blackhall at the ‘sponge the teacher’ stall. Please credit RNLI/Sam Jones.
For further information, please contact Sam Jones, Deputy Launching Authority and Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07747601900 or email samantha_jones@rnli.org.uk.
Byline: After a week of unrelenting wet and windy weather, the rain stayed away for Tobermory’s Lifeboat Day. And during the final preparations the previous evening, the volunteer crew were called away to assist a stricken yacht in the Sound of Iona.
Page Content:
The hardworking organisers of Tobermory RNLI’s annual Lifeboat Day were hugely relieved to awake on the morning of Sunday 14th August to find that the rain had finally stopped falling. A few hours later, there were big crowds at the event being treated to a range of stalls, games and activities – and of course, the raft race which was won this year by the Tobermory Guides. Even school children, who were no doubt dreading the new term starting in just a few days, had an opportunity to ‘sponge the teacher’ with local schoolteachers, Kirsty and Kirsten attempting to dodge the wet sponges being so enthusiastically thrown by some of their pupils.
Just a few hours previously, Tobermory RNLI's volunteer crew launched at 1811 to go to the assistance of a yacht dragging its anchor in the Bull Hole in the Sound of Iona. The yacht was unable to use its engine as it had overheated. On arrival at the scene, the yacht had managed to get underway and was heading to the shelter of Tinker's Hole. The lifeboat escorted the yacht and once it was confirmed that it was securely at anchor and the skipper was happy, the volunteer crew headed back to Tobermory where the lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service shortly after 2200.
Tobermory RNLI Coxswain David McHaffie said: ‘We’re still gathering in the funds but over £4000 was raised to help save lives at sea. Thanks to everyone for their generosity and we hope you had as much fun as we did. Thanks too to all the stall holders, businesses and individuals who so kindly donated prizes and things to sell, as well as to our colleagues from the Fire Brigade and Tobermory Coastguard who attended with their equipment and also to our hosts, the Tobermory Harbour Association. We’re also grateful yet again to Alasdair McCrone and Alasdair Satchell for their witty and energetic commentary. Finally, we'd also like to thank our RNLI shop volunteers who took more than £700 on the day and particularly our amazing Fundraising Branch who have been working and planning hard behind the scenes for many months to ensure that today was a huge success.’
Notes to editors
The photograph shows Tobermory RNLI Coxswain David McHaffie with local teacher and Tobermory RNLI Education Officer, Kirsty Blackhall at the 'sponge the teacher' stall. Please credit RNLI/Sam Jones.
For further information, please contact Sam Jones, Deputy Launching Authority and Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07747601900 or email samantha_jones@rnli.org.uk.