Lifeboat Visit Kicks-off The 2014 Year

At the invitation of Walton and Frinton Yacht Club 30 members of the Gunfleet joined forces with W&FYC members to visit Walton and Frinton Lifeboat.  The party met at the Yacht Club and, after a briefing from the Lifeboat Deputy Launching Authority Brian Ward, made its way on foot to Walton Pier.  On arrival it was a real bonus to see not only the Walton and Frinton Lifeboat afloat but also the four Lifeboats from the flank stations of Clacton and Harwich.  In lively sea conditions the boats showed the onlookers both their power and manoeuvrability, under the expert handling of the dedicated and very experienced crew.
 
The members then retreated off the Pier and into the warmth of the Lifeboat Operations Room before returning to the Yacht Club.  This gave an opportunity to look around W&FYC’s new clubhouse and appreciate the amount of work being put in to make the building a superb base for sailing activity on the east coast.
 
Gunfleet would like to extend its thanks to Roly Jarrold of Walton and Frinton Yacht Club for organising the event and inviting us along, Walton and Frinton Lifeboat DLA Brian Ward and Coxswain Gary Edwards for coordinating the Lifeboat exercise, and W&FYC Commodore Nick Wood for making us so welcome and showing us around the new clubhouse.