Angling Notes/Derek Evans: With the onset of the boat-angling season, tens of thousands will take to the high seas throughout the summer months.
It is worth remembering that safety at sea is of prime importance, as each year about 180 people drown and many other serious incidents occur (This figure is based on a 10-year average to 2003). So we are fortunate to have the services of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to help out in emergencies. Up to 50 lifeboats are strategically stationed around our coastline, each a high-tech modern craft manned with a dedicated and highly trained voluntary crew.
Take, for example, the Howth lifeboat station on the outskirts of Dublin. According to last year's annual report, 46 call-outs were received, a record number of "shouts" for the station. Rescues involving pleasure craft increased dramatically, with almost 50 per cent of calls.
This year is the third anniversary of the Roy Barker III lifeboat at Howth and the year also marks 143 years of service from the RNLI. The Trent-class vessel is the fastest all-weather lifeboat in the fleet with a speed of 25 knots and a range of 250 nautical miles.
Of coursethe situation was quite different back in 1862 when the first lifeboat, the Sir George Bowles, came to Howth. No engines, self-righters or GPS in those days - instead, oars and sails were the order of the day. To accommodate the new arrival, a boathouse was built on the west pier (beside the Harbour Master's office) with a launching slipway facing westwards outside the harbour.
The arrival of the George Bowles was timely. In 1865 there were 1,656 shipwrecks around the coasts of Ireland and Britain - more than 30 a week - resulting in a huge loss of life. One disaster in Dublin Bay involved an iron packet clipper, the Tayleur. Bound for Australia, she left Liverpool on January 19th, 1854, on her maiden voyage with 584 aboard. In thick fog and stormy weather Lambay Island suddenly appeared, but because of a communication problem with the Asian crew, the ship failed to alter tack and struck the rocks on the eastern side of the island and sank.
A total of 246 people died including all but three of the 200 women and children. A report into the disaster revealed major deficiencies including inadequate trials, an undersized rudder and a compass not synchronised properly. Word of the disaster did not reach Dublin for more than 24 hours.
The Clara Baker replaced the George Bowles at the pricely sum of £285. On March 25th, 1877, coxswain John White received the silver medal for rescuing three men lashed to the mizzen rigging of the barque Eva, stranded off Baldoyle. Coxswain White was the grandfather of another outstanding Howth coxswain, Gerry McLoughlin.
Ten years later a fully rigged ship, the George H Oulton, was wrecked off Bull Island. Howth station wasted no time in transporting the lifeboat overland to Sutton on a carriage drawn by horses on loan from Lord Howth. For seven hours, coxswain William Bell and crew of 11 struggled with the oars before reaching the wreck and rescuing all 16 . Heavily laden, Bell fought back mountainous seas to bring all 27 to safety at the North Bull.
The first diesel-powered lifeboat, the Lady Kyslant, in 1930 signalled a much-reduced crew and the appointment of William "Billy" McConkey Jnr as the first motor mechanic. Billy received a weekly wage of just £3 5/- and went on to complete 33 years service.
In 1955, the French trawler Therese-Emile Yuon, under-tow to Howth because of engine failure, parted company with the towline in the sound and went aground on Claremont Strand. After several attempts by coxswain Christy O'Connor to refloat her, the bowman, Joe McLoughlin, was put aboard the vessel and the crew taken off one by one. The wreck is still visible today.
Howth became the first station in Ireland to get an inshore rescue boat (ILB) - a 16ft inflatable powered by a 40hp outboard engine and capable of 22 knots. The boat was housed in the old west pier boathouse and the crew included Rupert Jeffares, the present honorary secretary. The station took full advantage of the harbour development scheme in 1982 with a new site to facilitate both lifeboats.
Two years later an Arun class vessel was assigned to Howth. The Arun was a new generation of lifeboat - 52ft and of GRP construction, with a 17ft beam and two Caterpillar 460hp engines capable of 18 knots and a range of 230 miles. She was named the City of Dublin at a ceremony performed by the then lady mayoress Miriam Ahern.
Following the retirement of coxswain Gerry McLoughlin, Robert Duffy was appointed as his successor, a position he still holds today. Since the station was established in 1862, Howth lifeboats have saved 465 lives and during that time, 11 bravery awards (seven silver and four bronze) have been awarded to the crew - a remarkable achievement.
Present crew members are as follows: Robert Duffy (coxswain); George Duffy (2nd coxswain/mechanic); Fred Connolly (deputy 2nd coxswain); Eamonn Howard (2nd mechanic); David Howard (3rd mechanic); Michael Duffy (training coordinator); Lorcan Dignam (ILB mechanic); Damian Cronin, Daniel Dowdall, Orla Howard, Brian McConkey, Ian Massey, Charles Murtagh, Michael Murtagh, James Murtagh, Darrell Reamsbottom, David Nixon and Tomas Ryan.