North Berwick RNLI warn of dangers from offshore winds
Volunteers from North Berwick RNLI launched the charity’s inshore lifeboat SUNIJO, to assist an inflatable kayak with two on board, being blown out to sea by strong offshore winds on Tuesday afternoon (3.50pm, Tue 24 Jun).
With near gale force winds blowing offshore the inflatable kayak was rapidly being blown towards open sea, with Coastguard Rescue Team members estimating the rate of drift to be so such that the casualties would not have been able to paddle back to land.
Guided by members of North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team, and tour vessels from the Scottish Seabird Centre, the crew were able to quickly locate and assist the two casualties, bringing them safely ashore.
Helm Fraser Fulton said “Offshore winds are seen as a “hidden” danger at the coast. It may seem sheltered right inshore, but further out to sea the conditions are significantly different, with large waves and stronger winds that can be difficult to paddle against.
“We advise against using any inflatable, not powered by an engine, on the sea during offshore winds. Unfortunately in North Berwick, with the prevailing SW’ly winds, that is the majority of the time. Indeed a large proportion of callouts for ourselves here in North Berwick are due to offshore winds, including a very serious incident last year involving stand up paddleboards.”
“Always check the forecast, if it is an offshore wind, don’t go out. If you are heading onto the water, no matter the conditions, wear a buoyancy aid or lifejacket and carry your mobile phone in a waterproof pouch, or a handheld VHF radio. In any coastal emergency, dial 999 for the Coastguard.”
This was the second call out in two days as the crew responded to a vessel experiencing engine difficulties and drifting onto rocks on Monday morning (Mon 23 Jun, 07.46am), but were stood down prior to launch.
Notes to editors
- In 2024 RNLI lifeboats from 238 stations across the UK and RoI launched 9,141 times saving 437 lives (alongside RNLI lifeguards), North Berwick launched 28 times, saving 7 lives.
- It cost £1,400 a year to train each crew member in the lifesaving skills they need to answer the call for help
- 97% of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers are volunteers including over 5,700 lifeboat crew members.
- In 2024 it cost the RNLI £190M to run it’s charitable lifesaving service, 6 in 10 of the lifeboat launches were funded be generous supporters leaving the RNLI a gift in their will.
RNLI media contacts
Matthew Gibbons, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, North Berwick, [email protected]
Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
24 hour RNLI Central Press Office, 01202 336789 or email [email protected]
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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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