Four of the RNLI's sea survival trainers are taking part in a 24-hour liferaft challenge as part of Poole Afloat, the south coast's biggest-ever free boating and watersports event on Saturday and Sunday June 23rd and 24th.
The team will take to the water in Poole harbour (off Poole Quay) in a standard RNLI liferaft for 24 hours from noon on Saturday June 23rd to raise money for the RNLI's Train One Save Many campaign.
They will endure claustrophobic, hot and cramped conditions to raise funds and awareness about the importance of training volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew members.
At noon on Sunday June 24th the RNLI's Poole lifeboat will rescue the castaways.
The team aims to raise over £6,800, which would cover the cost of six RNLI volunteer crew members attending sea survival training at The Lifeboat College in Poole.
These days only one in ten volunteer crew members come from a professional maritime background, therefore training is essential in helping them to save lives at sea.
Visitors to Poole Afloat can find out more at the RNLI's Train One Save Many stand, which will be on Poole Quay throughout the event.
Like desert island castaways, each member of the liferaft challenge team will be allowed to take a single personal item on board, and they will also take food and provisions.
RNLI sea survival trainer and Adrift at Poole Afloat castaway Jennie Court says: “We expect the 24-hour liferaft challenge to be tough. We know that training with the liferafts in the sea survival pool at The Lifeboat College can often be unpleasant for those on board due to it being such a small and confined space, particularly if we simulate the conditions of rough weather in the pool.
“However, this training can be lifesaving for our crews in certain real-life situations. All of us who are taking part in the 24-hour challenge are well prepared for these conditions.
“We're doing this to highlight the fact that crew training enables ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things. Last year, the RNLI's lifeboat crews rescued over 8,000 people and with the public's help they can continue to receive necessary lifesaving skills through training.”
The Poole Afloat event, sponsored by Rockley Holiday Park, takes place at Harbourside Park and Poole Quay, between 10am and 5pm, and will also offer an exhibition of the latest sports boats, wind and kite boards, Try-A-Boat sessions, scuba diving taster sessions, face painting, competitions and a host of other entertainment - all for free!
You can support the Adrift at Poole Afloat castaways by visiting justgiving.com/adrift
or by visiting the Train One Save Many stand on Poole Quay during Poole Afloat.
