RNLI - Our Safety Net
As kitesurfers we spend as much time as we can on the water enjoying the ocean.
Because of the time we spend on the water, we are also aware of the dangers that
the seas bring, anyone who has stood on the north coast in winter can testify to
the power of the seas around N. Ireland.
The whole kitesurfing community in Northern Ireland has the utmost of respect for
the volunteer lifecrews of the RNLI who selflessly give up their free time with
their own families to help protect the local communities in Northern Ireland. Whenever
we are walking off the water, generally that’s when these people are getting on
to it to help a stricken fishing boat or lost pleasure craft. Thankfully no kitesurfer
in Northern Ireland has needed to call on the services of the RNLI to date, however
the organisation is one big safety net across the coastline.
With 43 stations on the island of Ireland the RNLI are an integral part of our communities,
without these people there would so many more tragedies on our doorsteps. Lifeboat
crews will get a call at 3 in the morning, go and save lives in the middle of a
storm and then go to work. If you go onto the RNLI website it has the tagline, ‘Ordinary
people doing an extraordinary job’ and we have to agree.
The RNLI is a remarkable institution and we hope that this challenge across the
Irish Sea can help to allow it to continue saving lives in our communities.