1st March 2012

WEYMOUTH: Ongoing training for lifeboat crew

RNLI volunteer crew Leon Weaver from Weymouth lifeboat has just completed a course in radio communications.

He joined other volunteer crew from lifeboat stations around the south west on the course at RNLI Saltash while other courses were attended at the RNLI college in Poole.

Leon has been a crew member for just over a year and has also undertaken sea survival and firefighting training.

Other courses that are available include radar, navigating, boat handling and first aid of which 18 crew from Weymouth have recently passed either an initial or refresher course. All crew members are also encouraged to undertake RYA yacht master theory exams.

Volunteer press officer Ken Francis said: “We may be volunteers but we are trained by professionals to professional standards.

“Once courses are completed that is not the end of training, more like the beginning.

“The inshore lifeboat goes to sea for crew training twice every week with the allweather lifeboat going out every 10 days.

“Last year our two lifeboats carried out more than 2,000 hours at sea training our 28 crew members in all aspects of search and rescue and seamanship.”

PICTURE: RNLI volunteer crew Leon Weaver from Weymouth lifeboat, who has just completed a course in radio communications

WEYMOUTH: Ongoing training for lifeboat crew

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