Hello and welcome aboard Seascapes this week we have our monthly report from the Lifeboat service with Anna Classon; ; we hear about a new initiative Exploring sail training and a tall ship for Ireland ; first this week to Tramore and the Coastguard Station there , a magnificent building and a former RIC Barracks with panoramic views of Tramore bay – Stephen Mullaly (pictured above on left alongside. James and Paul Walsh ) of the Coastguard Service is to undertake a cycling challenge this coming week in aid of Anam Cara – the bereavement support and counselling service he begins that Challenge on Wednesday ……..
Follow Stephen's progress on www.anamcara.ie
Stephen Mullaly and his daughter Freya in Tramore.
As I was preparing last weeks Seascapes the news was emerging of the total devastation caused to coastal communities in Japan by the massive earthquake and resulting tsunami , I thought of the writer Koizumi Yakumo or Lafcadio Hearn – who is the best known Irishman in that country -, raised in Dublin he was born on the Greek island of Levkas in the Ionian Sea , in 1850 , he left Dublin for the USA in 1869 and worked as a journalist in Cinncinatti and New Orleans, in 1891 a commission from Harpers Weekly took him to Japan where he settled and married Setsuko Yakumo the daughter of a samurai family . Hearn went on to become Professor of English Literature at the Imperial University of Japan .In his many books on His adopted new homeland Hearn captured the essence of the Japanese nation and nowadays over one million people visit the museum at his home in Matsué on the island of Honshu each year .Our thoughts are with the people of Japan.
The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Boat Jumble will take place on Sunday 27th March on the Carlisle Pier in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, 10am to 4pm on the weekend when the hour goes forward …………..
A range of boating, sailing and water sports equipment and accessories, new and used will be on offer on trade pitches in addition to second hand boats/dinghies and nautical “car boot” items. Friends team up and pool their surplus gear and share the selling task, bring your deck chair !
There will be entertainment and catering will be available. The RNLI will be there to check your personal flotation device so bring it along and have your pre season check.
Details and booking form are on the Boat Jumble web-site where participants may advertise their items for sale - FREE. Check out www.boatjumble.ie .
Next to we head to the RNLI Divisional Headquarters and hear from Fundraising Manager - Anna Classon-
"The Clew Bay hotel in Dooagh was the venue chosen to celebrate the achievements of Bob Kingston. Bob recently retired from his role as Lifeboat Operations Manager of Achill lifeboat station.
Bob was one of the original lobbyists for a lifeboat in Achill. It was a long campaign and eventually the “Helen Turnbull” arrived in June 1996. Bob was the unanimous choice for the position of Lifeboat Operations Manager, having served as Honorary Secretary of the lifeboat committee for many years.
Since 1996, Bob witnessed the arrival of three lifeboats, each one more technically advanced than the preceding one. Bob we wish you well in your retirement and we know that you will not be a stranger to the lifeboats.
Spectacular photographs taken from the shore by Lifeboat Operations Manager John Brittain recently show volunteer lifeboat crew with Clifden RNLI undergoing special surf training recently on Dunloughan beach. John organised the training in response to the increased popularity of the area with surfers. RNLI Divisional Assessor Trainer Helena Duggan put 18 volunteer lifeboat crew through their paces and trained them in handling the lifeboat in surf and responding to potential callouts from leisure marine enthusiasts.

The images show the type of conditions that volunteer lifeboat crew train in for the charity. They capture the inshore lifeboat crewmembers climbing a wave and exercising in some challenging conditions.Clogherhead RNLI lifeboat Station has just played host to four members of the Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS) who took part in various scheduled training exercises along with the crew from the station. One of the four visiting rescue crew, Barry Whyte, originally from Stamullen in Co. Meath has been living in Sweden for the past 13 years. Barry contacted the Irish Division of the RNLI proposing an exchange of visits between the RNLI and the Swedish Sea Rescue Society in order to enhance their own training. The visiting crew are based in Holmsund, northern Sweden and operate 6 months of the year from May until November when the seas are not frozen over.The SSRS is fully served by volunteer crew and is responsible for 70 per cent of all sea rescues in Sweden.

Finally Dickie Duggan, former lifeboat volunteer crewmember with Rosslare RNLI has passed away. Dickie was the last surviving lifeboat crewmember from a famous rescue in 1954. Dickie was only 18 years of age when called to stand in as crew on the 27th of November 1954 in force 11 conditions. A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Richard Walsh and Bronze Medals to Second Coxswain William Duggan and Motor Mechanic Richard Hickey and Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to the other four crew members when the tanker World Concord broke in half in hurricane force winds on 27 November 1954. Thirty five men were rescued by St Davids lifeboat from the aft portion of the vessel that had drifted towards the Welsh coast. Rosslare Harbour lifeboat rescued the remaining seven men from the fore part that had drifted towards the Irish Coast.

A Tall Ship for Ireland is the main topic for discussion at a gathering planned for next weekend
Tall Ship for Ireland Workshop and Ocean Youth Sail Training Conference, on 1000 hrs for 1030 hrs Sat 26th March,and is being kindly hosted by Dublin Port. Its the result of an Island of Ireland reference group coming together with Ports, Education, Tourism, Navy & Coast Guard and Youth Interests
For the first time the Chairmen of Tallships in Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Waterford, and Lets Do It Global will be together. We are also very much behind the new Sail Training Ireland group linked with Sail Training International.
The Lord Glentoran (Robin Dixon), who has had a very distinguished career and contribution to the maritime sphere has kindly agreed to Chair the event supported by Gerard O'Hare, Enda O'Coineen and David Beattie.

Please confirm if you can make it - in particular they are hoping to have a broad cross-section of interested parties to share ideas. You might also outline in advance any ideas you may wish to present.Email: tallshipforireland@gmail.com or contact Cian Gallagher on + 353 86 807 02 69 or Ben Craig + 44 7518 526109.
Irish Water Safety is warning the public of the increased risk to people becoming stranded whilst walking or picking shellfish on our beaches over the weekend.
The moon will be at its closest to earth since 1993 on this Saturday , This "Lunar Perigee", or 'Super Moon' as some astrologers refer to it as, is the opposite of the "Lunar Apogee", when the Moon is furthest from Earth. Generally, the Moon looks about 12-14% larger at its perigee compared to its apogee.
This has the effect of causing very high and low tides, or increasing the range of the tide. This will expose large areas of beach and rocks which we normally don't see. Many people enjoy walking on our beaches and exploring these new areas of beach and in particular people enjoy picking shellfish to eat which become exposed during these very low tides.
Should you get in to trouble then call 112 or 999 and ask for Marine Rescue, giving your exact location and in particular if you are near to any conspicuous landmarks nearby to assist the Rescue Services in locating your whereabouts.
All seafarers, surfers, swimmers and divers should be aware of the increased tidal streams that will be running around our coast over the weekend; people could find themselves in peril as a result of these strong and fast tidal conditions which have not been experienced for some time now.