It's full throttle for YOUR lifeboat
THE state-of-the-art lifeboat for which Lynn News readers helped raise a fantastic £136,000 is finally on its way to Hunstanton – ahead of schedule.
The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was not due to arrive on station for another five years. Even though our Lynn News Hunstanton Lifeboat Appeal helped raise the money in just 16 months, a lengthy commissioning, building and delivery programme for RNLI lifeboats across the country meant it would not normally have been ready until 2013.
But bosses at the charity headquarters in Poole, Dorset, overwhelmed by the success of local fundraising and the dedicated efforts of our readers, have now confirmed the boat will arrive on station three years ahead of schedule.
The order for the boat will be placed in around eight months, and will arrive at Hunstanton in 2010.
RNLI training divisional inspector Richard Wynn said: "Lynn News readers played a fantastic part in local fundraising efforts for the Hunstanton lifeboat and we are absolutely delighted the lifeboat will be on station in 2010."
Hunstanton RNLI lifeboat operations manager Robin Rafferty was also delighted with the news. He said although the station's outdated Atlantic 75 is still operational, the crews can't wait for the arrival of the Atlantic 85 .
"We can't thank the people of Lynn and West Norfolk enough in raising the money for this lifeboat. It has been outstanding," he said. "The sooner we can get the boat, the better."
In the meantime, the charity needs to look at the station itself, as its currently only big enough to house the 7.5-metre Atlantic 75, which has been in service for ten years.
In order to store the 8.3 metre Atlantic 85, the station in Old Hunstanton will either have to be modified or rebuilt.
Bosses are also looking at the possibility of creating a new purpose-built station on a different site within the Old Hunstanton/Hunstanton area.
"A lot needs to be done before the boat can arrive, but we're pressing on with everything and will keep Lynn News readers informed of what's going on," added Mr Wynn.
RNLI bosses were thrilled with how quickly the money for the new lifeboat was raised too, as they expected it to take at least two, if not three years, to the reach the 125,000 appeal total.
The extra 11,000 raised will go towards training the station's crew in using the new boat – at a cost of 1,000 each.
Readers raised money in every way imaginable – from sponsored walks, runs and bike rides to concerts, sailing events, fashion shows and a parachute jump.
One of the biggest donations came from Hunstanton and District Round Table which gave around 5,000 raised from its Christmas Day swim in 2006.
The King William IV pub and restaurant in Sedgeford also donated around 5,000 after holding a fisherman's supper evening and an almighty 320-mile sponsored bike ride by head chef Richard Briscoe last May.
The Atlantic 85 is not only faster than its predecessor, it also has better handling in bad weather, making it able to respond to emergencies more rapidly.
It also has new radar search-and-rescue equipment, a self-righting mechanism, more space for casualties and crew and is capable of being beached in an emergency without causing damage to the engines and steering gear.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
