Is inflation impacting Nationals Attendance?

In general, boat owners do not 'call the Lifeboat' because they have engine failure. They (prudently) inform the coastguard of their problem (that's probably a good thing because the coasty is probably getting calls from passers by already), the coastguard chooses to task the RNLI. AIUI, the RNLI are not complaining about being called out, they would rather attend 10 breakdowns than have one breakdown turn into a life-threatening incident. Of course, we'd all like people to maintain their engines properly, carry enough fuel and look out for pot markers etc. But before mocking too many 'casualties' maybe some of us have got away with our poor planning (so far) and some of us don't get out much.

I believe that a lot of “engine failures” are due to boats entangling with poorly marked fishing gear, in the old days pots were marked with flags, now they are located by GPS

Yep, point taken regarding their publicity machine … kind of why I reconciled with the knowledge that any future donation would be in the event of an actual incident, direct to local collections team of said crew, rather than a direct debit to to the marketing and PR department

I know RNLI crews and they're pretty down to earth but some of the RNLI publicity machine is OTT. I recall watching a TV "Saving Lives at Sea" where a pair of sailors had an RS400 on it's side sorting out a breakage. Despite insisting they were fine the crew insisted one of the sailors leave their boat and swim over to the ILB (presumably they were wary of prop fouling on loose lines , fair). The ILB persuaded the sailors to take a tow back in while there was a dramatic voice over of the hazards of the tow to the ILB. Err no, a dinghy being towed is at bigger risk, especially with non dinghy familiar RNLI crews, which is why no dinghy crew knowing anything would ever allow themselves to be towed with a line made fast to their dinghy. I do carry a tow line but would ever take a turn and hold it for release if needed; I refuse to comply with some water regulation authorities whose rules require a fixed painter.  

Originally posted by The Q Paddleboarding warning issued after 100 rescues in 48 hours on one stretch of Welsh coast (msn.com)

Edited by DiscoBall - 15 Aug 22 at 8:37pm