Arbroath RNLI crew take the plunge to raise funds for Sink or Swim
ByNews reporter
It might have been warmer and calmer than the North Sea, but the distance was just as tough, as the crew of Arbroath lifeboat swam 22 miles the distance from the town’s from the harbour to the Bell Rock lighthouse and back to mark the RNLI’s national SOS Day and to celebrate the bicentenary of Robert Stevenson’s masterpiece.
Members of the 32-strong crew took part in the swim at Arbroath High School leisure centre as they donned their costumes for a Sink Or Swim fund-raiser.
The lifeboat crew were sponsored to swim the distance to the Bell Rock and back, with the 22 miles completed in relay.
The crew used three lanes, with each given an amount of lengths to swim. They were cheered on by friends and family.
It has been a busy year for the crew, with the number of launches by Arbroath lifeboat last summer more than double that of 2009.
Scottish lifeboats launched a total of 430 last summer, compared to 431 the previous year.
However, Arbroath’s volunteers made 22 rescues last year compared to 10 in 2009.
