RNLI?s busiest year but not for Scilly

The RNLI had its busiest year on record in 2003 but Scilly managed to have a quieter year than most.

The lifeboast was only launched nine times last year and rescued 19 people compared to 2002 when 16 people were saved in 15 rescues.

The national average saw a 7% increase.

RNLI operations director, Michael Vlasto told Scilly News: “The total number of lifeboat launches has increased year on year since 1986 making the 2003 figure more than double the 1986 total of 3,724. We believe this trend is due to a number of factors, such as the changing patterns of sea use by the public, improved search and rescue techniques and the dramatic growth in the use of mobile telephones among the public ? and particularly for 2003, the long, hot summer.”

The busiest RNLI lifeboat station on the coast was Poole, in Dorset, with a staggering 175 launches between its two lifeboats, resulting in the rescue of 190 people.