Fundraising Treasurer at Rye Harbour, Sally Bayly is awarded the RNLI'S Bronze Badge

Sally Bayly, Fundraising Treasurer at Rye Harbour is awarded the RNLI's Bronze Badge Sally Bayly, the Fundraising Treasurer at Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station was presented with the RNLI's Bronze Badge by Peter Huxtable MBE, coxswain of Shoreham RNLI Lifeboat, on Saturday 20 June 2009 at the RNLI Lifeboat College at Poole in recognition of her individual services. Following the presentation, there was a tour of the Lifeboat College where Sally and the other awardees were able to see the training simulator and the training pool.

Sally joined the Rye Harbour and District Branch (formerly known as Rye, Winchelsea and District Branch) in November 2003 as the Branch Treasurer, a position that she held up until Wednesday 11 June 2008 when Rye Harbour and District Branch merged with Rye Harbour Station Branch when Sally became the Fundraising Treasurer for Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station.

Sally Bayly, Fundraising Treasurer for Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Stations, said: 'I was suprised and chuffed to bits! I really felt quite honoured, actually. When I went to Poole, I was amazed to find out (even more than I knew already) how brave and self-sacrificing the RNLI Volunteer crews are.'

Peter Huxtable MBE, RNLI Coxswain for Shoreham RNLI Lifeboat, said: 'It was an honour to present the award. It was nice to meet Sally and the other volunteers who help raise the money, which enables the RNLI to continue saving lives at sea.'

Mrs Priscilla Ryan, President for Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station, said: 'I'm pleased that Sally has been awarded the RNLI's Bronze Badge in recognition of all that she does for the RNLI. Everyone at Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station, the members of the former Rye Harbour and District Branch and all of her friends in Rye send their congratulations on receiving this prestigious award.'

Photo: Copyright Mark Howell 2009 (Used with the kind permission of Mark Howell)

Angling Boat ' Anya' broken down 6.5 miles South East of Rye Harbour entrance

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat B727 'Commander and Mrs Rodney Wells' launched on service at 5.14 pm to the angling boat 'Anya' which had broken down six and a half miles south east of Rye Harbour entrance. At 5.27 pm RNLI Lifeboat B727 arrived on scene and eight minutes later, had the angling boat 'Anya' in tow and were heading back to harbour.

The angling boat left harbour earlier in the day for a days angling, when it came to return to harbour they were unable to restart the boat - there was no spark to the engine. The skipper decided to call Dover Coastguard and request assistance.

Richard Tollett, RNLI Lifeboat Operation Manager for RNLI Lifeboat, said: 'It makes a change to go and rescue a fishing boat this time of year, as we would usually be out returning inflatables to the shore at Camber Sands. The RNLI is an independent charity reliant upon volunteers. Our lifeboat service is funded by voluntary donations not HM Government.'

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat launches to the aid of broken down jet ski

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat B727 'Commander and Mrs Rodney Wells' launched on service at 3.23 pm today (28 June) to a broken down jet ski with two occupants a quarter of a mile east of Rye Harbour entrance off Camber Sands.

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat B727 arrived along side the casualty at 3.26 pm and four minutes later had the casualty under tow and were heading back to harbour. At 3.43 pm Lifeboat B727 landed the casualty on the public slip at Rye Harbour.

The occupants of the jet ski had gone afloat earlier in the day with friends and were having fun off of Camber Sands. They were pulling an inflatable doughnut which one of the occupants would ride whilst being towed by the jet ski. The tow rope got caught in the jet causing the break down.

Richard Tollett, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager for Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat, said: ‘This is one of the seasonal rescues that we make here at Rye Harbour, what looks like fun has the potential to end in tragedy. Over half of the 8000 RNLI lifeboat launches each year are to leisure craft users'.

'With this in mind the RNLI have launched a leisure marine fundraising campaign - 'Serious Fun!' Serious Fun aims to increase committed, financial support for the charity among all watersports enthusiasts, so they can enjoy the water confident in the knowledge that the RNLI is never far away should things go wrong. More information is available at http://www.rnli.org.uk/seriousfun'

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Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat launches to yacht with a broken mast

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat B727 'Commander and Mrs Rodney Wells' launched on service at 3.19 pm today 27 June) at the request of Dover Coastguard. The lifeboat launched to a 25ft yacht that was suffering with a broken mast, one mile south of Rye Harbour entrance.

RNLI Lifeboat B727 arrived alongside the casualty at 3.28 pm; the mast had snapped at deck level and the ropes had wrapped around the propeller. At 3.38 pm Lifeboat B727 had the yacht 'Folk Music' under tow and were making their way back to harbour. RNLI Lifeboat B727 and the casualty entered the harbour at 4.03 pm and were making their way back to the casualties moorings at Rock Channel, Rye. Whilst towing the yacht 'Folk Music' back to her moorings Rye Harbour Lifeboat B727 passed a sailing dinghy that appeared to be having problems; the lifeboat crew checked with the sailors - who said that they were OK. The yacht 'Folk Music' was placed back on her moorings at 4.29 pm.

At 4.34 pm, Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat B727 was tasked to assist the sailing dinghy 'sail number: 1357' which had capsized in the River Rother and the occupants were struggling. At 4.40 pm Lifeboat B727 was alongside the dinghy and had them under tow four minutes later. The sailing dinghy was put on the public slipway at Rye Harbour at 5 pm. It turned out that whilst the dinghy had been knocking against the wall of the river, the outer hull of the twin hulled dinghy had split and water had flooded between the two hulls - causing problems with up-righting the dinghy.

Tony Edwards, RNLI Deputy Launching Authority for Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat, said: ‘boating and watersports should be fun but as we all know, even the best prepared can run into unexpected problems. With this in mind, the RNLI has produced a range of safety information designed to help users stay safe. For more information visit www.rnli.org.uk/seasafety .'

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat launches to six people cut off by the tide

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat B727 'Commander and Mrs Rodney Wells' launched at 5.05 pm, just five minutes after returning to station following two earlier shouts. The lifeboat was tasked by Dover Coastguard to go to the aid of six people (2 adults and 4 children) cut off by the tide under the cliffs at Fairlight.

At 5.23 pm RNLI Lifeboat B727 arrived on scene and a member of the Lifeboat Crew was put ashore to assess the situation and the level of assistance required. The adults informed the crew member that they were all safe and well, advising that they knew that the tide was coming in; they told the crew member that they had told the fishermen near by that they were alright.

The member of the crew explained that it was another person who had seen them cut off by the tide and reported it to Dover Coastguard and not the fishermen.

Richard Tollett, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager for Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat, said: ‘this is a classic incident of a false alarm with good intent. When at the beach, you should keep an eye on the tide, being careful not to get cut off by the tide when walking along the shore. The sea is unpredictable and what looks like fun could end in tragedy.’

Great Grandmother, Penny, undertakes 200 mile coastal walk to raise funds for the RNLI

Whilst on a world cruise aboard the 'Black Watch', Penny Pennison-Camus attended a lecture about the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and was so deeply moved by the work carried out by the RNLI and the thousands of people saved each year; she decided to undertake a 200 mile sponsored walk to raise money for the RNLI. Penny paid a visit to Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat station today (26 June) at 7 pm. Penny, a Great Grandmother, set off from Whitstable on her fundraising adventure on the 15 June and will be finishing at Lymington on the 15 July.

Penny, whilst at Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station, said: 'I was so deeply moved by the fact that so many people are rescued by the RNLI each year and yet receive no funding from the Government, having to rely entirely on donations. Although being a Great Grandmother, I enjoy very good health and love walking. I felt that I wanted to raise some funds and thought that walking would be a good way of raising funds for the RNLI. If anyone would like to sponsor me on my journey, they can make a donation at www.justgiving.com/penny-pennison-camus .’

Richard Tollett, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station, said: 'It's amazing that people, Like Penny, undertake adventures to raise money for the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea. RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews provide a 24 hour search and rescue service around the coasts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, rescuing on average 21 people every day from the water, in situations which are often difficult and sometimes dangerous. The RNLI is independent from Government, relying on donations for its income.'

Penny's schedule:

Saturday 27 June - Hastings

Monday 29 June - Bexhill
Tuesday 30 June - Pevensey
Wednesday 1 July - Eastbourne
Thursday 2 July - Newhaven
Friday 3 July - Hove
Saturday 4 July - Worthing

Monday 6 July - Littlehampton
Tuesday 7 July - Bognor
Wednesday 8 July - Chichester
Thursday 9 July - Havant
Friday 10 July - Gosport
Saturday 11 July - Fishbourne

Monday 13 July - Cowes
Tuesday 14 July - Yarmouth
Wednesday 15 July - Lymington

Boat breaks down on maiden voyage

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat B727 'Commander and Mrs Rodney Wells' launched on service on Tuesday 23 June 2009 at 1.30 pm to go to the aid of a small angling boat with one occupant, suffering engine failure one mile south of Winchelsea Beach. The alarm was raised by the owner of the boat, who contacted Hendrik Ruysch, a launcher at Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station and the owner of Rye Harbour Marine.

RNLI Lifeboat B727 arrived a the casualty at 1.36 pm. A member of the Crew from Rye Harbour Lifeboat transferred to the casualty and the boat was taken in tow. At 1.40 pm the lifeboat and casualty preceded back to harbour. The casualty was placed on the public slipway at Rye Harbour at 2 pm and the Lifeboat returned to station, after being washed down and refuelled, RNLI Lifeboat B727 was ready for service at 2.15 pm.

Tony Edwards, RNLI Deputy Launching Authority for Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat, said: ‘This was a strait forward, text book tow, this is due to the crew spending many hours training for such an incident. In this case the owner had checked the engine before putting to sea and had a VHF radio, but was unfortunate when the engines wouldn't restart to come back to harbour.’

‘20 fishermen perish annually in British waters, that's why the RNLI have developed MOB Guardian - an automated alert system that can help take the Search our of Search and Rescue.’