Caister's New Lifeboat 2004
   
     
Katwijk Lifeboat Day 2004

New high-speed boat is a dream come true.

  
Pictures taken 7th August

Piece taken from the Great Yarmouth Mercury Friday August 20th 2004
By Rob Allanson.

  

Crew prepares welcome

THE waiting is finally over for the Caister’s lifeboat crew with the arrival of their new, state-of-the-art boat next week. The Valentijn 2000 water jet propelled vessel will make the Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service crew one of the fastest and most up to date services in the country.

The fundraising committee will be holding a homecoming event for the boat on Sunday, August 29.

The event will give lifeboat supporters the chance to meet members of the Dutch lifeboat crew, who have helped the Caister men with their new boat, and the vessel’s designer, David Stogdon.

Crew member John Cannell said the arrival of the boat at the shed would mark the end of 18 months of hard fundraising. He added: “The boat is a dream come true. Being turned down by the lottery just served to give us extra impetus".
 

Picture courtesy of Arie van Dijk KNRM Katwijk

    
     
“The vessel has undergone extensive tests in Holland with the Dutch lifeboat and we are looking forward to celebrating its arrival.”

The Dutch built Valentijn, which will slash response times by more than half, replaces The Bernard Matthews lifeboat, which has been going to the rescue of seafarers off the coast of Great Yarmouth for 12 years.

The Valentijn has cost just over £450,000. New coxswain Paul Willams has been putting the new boat through its paces during three days of trials in Holland. He said: “The handling capability during the sea tests was superb, everything I asked it to do it did. “At one stage I had 50 people on board and the boat still remained very stable.”
 

Picture courtesy of Arie van Dijk KNRM Katwijk

    
     
The new boat uses steerable water jets from twin engines instead of propellers and rudders, so as well as its speed it will also have the advantage of being more manoeuvrable. By 2005, all lifeboats must be capable of doing speeds of 27 knots. As the Bernard Matthews can only get up to 16 knots, the lifeboat crew and committee decided to move and opt for a 10-ton jet-propelled boat that can travel up to speeds of 37 knots.
  • The old shed - built in 1939 - is to become a heritage centre.
  • The fundraising team will also be holding a folk night and beach barbeque at the station tomorrow, with the Cromer Castaways band, starting at 7pm.
  • The Caister Lifeboat Appeal has now reached the £400,000 mark. Donations can be sent to the Treasurer, Caister Lifeboat Appeal, The Lifeboat Station, Tan Lane, Caister, NR30 5DJ.
 

Picture courtesy of Arie van Dijk KNRM Katwijk

    
     
 

Picture courtesy of Arie van Dijk KNRM Katwijk

    
     
   

Picture courtesy of Arie van Dijk KNRM Katwijk

    
     
   

Picture courtesy of Arie van Dijk KNRM Katwijk

    
     
   

Picture courtesy of Arie van Dijk KNRM Katwijk

    
     
   

Picture courtesy of Arie van Dijk KNRM Katwijk

    
     
   

Picture courtesy of Arie van Dijk KNRM Katwijk