Prestigious award for National Coastwatch
The National Coastwatch Institute have been given a new award- The Royal Cruising Club Medal for Services to Cruising, following their 20th anniversary. The Royal Cruising Club is an influential organisation in the world of serious cruising and membership is limited to those whose cruising record places them amongst the most significant sailors of their generation.
In announcing the decision, the club made it clear that the award is in recognition of NCI’s first twenty years and the growing contribution NCI are making to the safety of yachts at sea.
National Coastwatch keeps watch from 50 lookouts and has over 2,000 trained volunteers. In the North West, the only station is situated at Fleetwood and the volunteers there have clocked up an impressive 4,821 volunteer hours in 2014, a record for the station.
They now have 41 members who train both in the station at Fleetwood and at Fleetwood Nautical College. The station is open 365 days a year.
Steve Martin, Station Manager at Fleetwood said, ‘’ It’s been a tremendous effort by the team and I can’t thank them enough for ensuring our commitment to the Coast Guard was met. To also be awarded the RCC medal for Services to Cruising, is national recognition for our volunteers and the work they freely give’’.