I’m grateful for him showing me around and telling me more about the lifeboat station that has been at St Bees since 1970. We sat down for a chat about sea swimming and safety, what a rip tide is, and to find out about the life-saving organisation of the RNLI.
St Bees is one of four lifeboat stations in Cumbria. It has one lifeboat, a B class Atlantic 85 and is called Joy Morris (who was a former treasurer of the station). Throughout its years, the station has been rewarded with four medals including the bronze Gallantry Medal.
The RNLI is made up of 10,000+ crew with 119 lifeboat crews across the country. Of those, 97% are volunteers! In 2022, RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards saved 506 lives.
Sea Swimming Best Advice
The best advice Colin has for anybody who wants to enjoy sea swimming is
- Check the weather
- Check the tides
- Wear a bright hat
- Use a float - put your name, number and emergency contact details on it in permanent marker.
- Let somebody know where you're going and when you're going to be back.
- Don't go swimming alone
Rip Tides
There are dangers out there and if you are swimming alone you need to recognise when you are potentially in trouble. Colin told me more about Riptides.
“Riptides are very strong, powerful currents that can be found around Groynes, River estuaries and can easily drag you out to sea. Sometimes about one or two miles an hour but can sometimes reach speeds of up to 4 to 5 miles an hour, which is stronger and faster than an Olympic swimmer.
Even the most experienced swimmers get caught out by riptides. Don't try to swim against them, go with the flow. If you can stand up, just gently wade into the shore. If you can swim parallel to the shore, do that. It’s easier. Once you get close to the shore, then you can get out. Don't fight against the tide. And if you feel you're getting into difficulties, shout for help. There's no shame or embarrassment. You can wave your arms. Shout for help. Hopefully, someone will call 999 and will ask for the coastguard to come and help you.”
“Some of the common mistakes that even the most experienced swimmers make is they overestimate their abilities, overestimate the conditions, they don't check the weather. They don't check the tides. Always be prepared. Always swim within your own ability.”
Float to Live
With cold water swimming, we are often fighting against our body's reaction. This is the message of the RNLIs #RespectTheWater campaign where they are trying to press upon people to fight the panic when they get into difficulties in the water. Relax. Calm down. And float to live. Colin talked me through it.
The fact that the RNLI is made up of 97% volunteers quite frankly blows my mind. These volunteers are ready and willing to go out day or night into situations which I feel make all of them heroes. Colin took me for a tour of the lifeboat station to see what these volunteers do before even getting on the boat.
A tour of St Bees Lifeboat Station
A big thank you to Colin Wadey and RNLI St Bees Lifeboat for letting me visit.
If you would like to support the RNLI please donate via their website.
Is the sea not for you? For advice on starting your open water swimming journey in a urban setting, check out David's top tips from Uswim, in Salford.
