Scarborough to Whitby Lifeboat Row
As an added attraction for Scarborough’s Lifeboat Weekend, 1st and 2nd August 2009, an historic lifeboat that has been recently restored will be on show at the Lifeboat House and will then be rowed 17 miles to Whitby,
100 years old on 23 August, the William Riley of Birmingham and Leamington may also be rowed locally around Scarborough harbour and South Bay before the event, weather permitting.
The lifeboat took part in one of the most dramatic and longest rescues ever undertaken by the RNLI – the Rohilla hospital ship disaster of Whitby in 1914 – when she was brought three miles across the town from Upgang and lowered 400 feet down the cliff below Whitby Abbey to get to the casualty. She will be rowed between Scarborough and Whitby in the wake of the Scarborough Lifeboat that also took part in that rescue.
34 feet long and weighing just under 3 tons, the double-ended open lifeboat will be crewed by members of Scarborough Amateur Rowing Club, Scarborough Sub Aqua Club and the Scarborough Lifeboat. We hope she will be escorted by a flotilla of yachts and small boats.
Departure time from Scarborough Harbour is planned for 1330hrs on Saturday 1 August 2009. Estimated time of arrival in Whitby Harbour at 1830hrs.
For further information on the lifeboat’s restoration and the Rohilla disaster contact Eric Russell, Life Boat Row Co-ordinator on 01723 371629
