There can be few services closer to a yachtsman’s heart than that offered by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution [RNLI] around the British coastline, though no yachtsman ever willingly wants to make use of it.

Competitors in the forthcoming Round Britain Powerboat Race are no different from their cruising cousins and 5 knots or 105 knots, from Portsmouth to Inverness and all stations between, if a boat needs help the RNLI will be there to assist them home in safety.

Team 747’s crew of British Airways 747 Captains has been beating the bushes amongst their flight crews and friends for the past few weeks raising money for their favourite charity. The product of their efforts saw the light at Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays today (19 June), when Jonathan Napier presented £747.00 to the RNLI’s Peter Slydel, a crew member from the Portsmouth boat, and Lou Purdy, Area Fundraising Manager for the RNLI in Sussex.

Napier commented: “ None of us wants to use the RNLI but they deserve our support for the superb work that they do saving life at sea. We thought that the least we could do was collect a small contribution to swell their coffers so all our flying colleagues have been persuaded into contributing and the Fairey Owners Club members chipped in £200.00 to make our total respectable.”

David Brann, head of fundraising at the RNLI was quick to extend his thanks: “It is really heartening to discover teams competing in this race have taken the time and trouble to collect donations and we thank Jonathan’s crew on Team 747 and, indeed, all the other people who are using this race to raise money for our cause, including Mike Lloyd’s organising team. May everyone enjoy a trouble-free race but if they need us, we’ll be there on call.”