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The
current
class of lifeboat used at Newbiggin
is the Atlantic 75. Developed at the RNLI's Inshore
Lifeboat Center,Cowes I.O.W. in 1992. Her name is
"CSMA 75th Anniversary".
She is slightly longer and broader than the previous
"21" (the "Kirklees"), and her name is derived
from her length of nearly 7.5 meters.
Even though her twin twin 70hp outboard engines
make her the fastest lifeboat in the fleet, her hull
design provides a softer ride for the crew and the survivors. The
three crew sit on a delta-shaped console in the centre of the lifeboat,
the helmsman steering with one hand whilst adjusting the throttle
with the other.
The lifeboat is fully fitted out by RNLI staff. A roll bar assembly
above the engines on the stern of the boat provides the mounting
for a self righting bag, stowed flat. In the event of a capsize,
a crew member activates a gas bottle to inflate the bag. The lifeboat
turns upright in a few seconds.
As part of the Atlantic "B" class of lifeboat, she is
a
rigid inflatable which can operate in both daylight
and darkness.
The engines are inversion-proofed and can restart
after a capsize.
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ATLANTIC
75 Specifications:
| Length
: |
7.5
meters |
|
Endurance: |
3
hours at Max Speed
|
| Beam
: |
2.64
meters |
|
Crew: |
2 or 3
|
| Displacement: |
Approx.
3.200lb. |
|
Construct: |
Grp Hull with
Hypalon-coated tube
|
| Speed: |
32
Knots |
|
Engine: |
Twin
70hp outboard
|
The
Atlantic class is designed for inshore operations and every piece
of equipment she carries must be reliable, sturdy, and as simple
to operate as possible.
Included in the equipment carried by an Atlantic 75 is an echo sounder,
VHF radio telephone, GPS (salellite navigation) reciever, and electronic
chart system.
Here at Newbigin we also have "night vision" capabilities.
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NEWBIGGIN
LIFEBOATS AND THEIR RECORD
|
|
ON
|
Lifeboat
|
Period
|
Launches
|
Lives
Rescued |
Cost
£ |
|
--
|
Latimer
(Gift from Duke of Northumberland) |
1851-1860 |
8
|
17
|
130
|
|
--
|
Latimer
(Gift from Duke of Northumberland) |
1860-1866 |
7
|
73
|
300
|
|
--
|
William
Hopkinson of Brighouse |
1866-1885 |
40
|
103
|
400
|
|
3
|
Robert
and Susan |
1885-1906 |
59
|
79
|
399
|
|
.
|
Temporary
lifeboats |
1892-1893 |
3
|
15
|
--
|
|
566
|
Ada
Lewis (self- righter) |
1906-1931 |
84
|
91
|
879
|
|
619
|
Arthur
R Dawes (self -righting) |
1931-1938 |
13
|
--
|
989
|
|
810
|
Augustus
and Laura (surf/motor) |
1938-1950 |
28
|
17
|
3,356
|
|
875
|
Richard
Ashley
(Liverpool-motor) |
1960-1966 |
44
|
11
|
13,154
|
|
.
|
Temporary
lifeboats |
1956-1980 |
5
|
3
|
--
|
|
984
|
Mary
Joicey (Oakley) |
1966-1981 |
54
|
24
|
37,000
|
|
B553
|
Kirklees
(Atlantic 21) |
1981-1998 |
112
|
75
|
22,500
|
|
B745.
|
CSMA
75th. Anniversary
(Atlantic 75)
|
1998- |
|
|
66,185
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*IT'S
A DOG'S LIFE!
It's not only human beings who have the Newbiggin lifeboat
crew to thank for their safety. On 23 November 1999, "C&MA 75th
Anniversary" went to the rescue of a 10 year old Yorkshire Terrier
called Barney. Barney was enjoying himself scurrying about in
the shoreline rock pools looking for fish. The tide was coming
in and, when Barney's owner spotted him, poor Barney was surrounded
by water and the rocks were rapidly disappearing under the waves.
The lifeboat was soon launched and was taken as close as possible
to the rocks. Crew member Jeff Brown jumped into the water and
started to wade and then swim towards Barney. Barney was soon
swimming with Jeff but then he decided he would prefer to travel
in style. Jeff was swimming on his back so Barney scrambled
up on to his chest and hitched a lift back to the lifeboat,
licking Jeff's face as he went. |
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If you're ever in Northumberland,
see if you can call in on Newbiggin by the Sea and pay a visit to
the Lifeboat Station. While you're there, stop and think for a while
of all the people since 1851 who have given their
time and energy to help save lives at sea on this part of the coast.
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