Northern Report (UK Wales Denmark visit)
Arancia headed to the Far North in June this year, UK London  for the launch of Warren Mitchell's Book "Break Through" See separate article.
Also to visit UK  Clubs (Bantham) in Devon, Porthcawl (Wales) and Denmark to check on their latest  Arancias delivered in the previous month.
 
First Bantham - Thanks Dave for the offer of a the ride over to Burgh Island in one of our Arancias, This time we took you up on it,  and just as well as it was practically all the sun we were to see in the UK for 07.
 
Wales - Rest Bay, Porthcawl

Half way to Swansea from Cardiff, we called in to see one of the first Welsh Clubs to get an Arancia and meet the IRB crew . Then onto Porthcawl to  check over their new hull and see their area of operation, without the holiday masses. Holidays had yet to start. Followed by fresh directions on how to get to the Atlantic College   Spent a most enjoyable couple of hours being shown around this medieval Castle, well parts of it were, the parts being shipped back from Europe and reassembled.

The concrete boat ramp picture facing out into the Atlantic is where the RNLI still launch their Rigid hull Lifeboat for emergencies. Having read about the work done by the Welsh lifeguards in the development of the rigid hull inflatables at Atlantic College back in the 70s it has been a ambition of mine to visit this special place.

  
Denmark

Arrived at Esberg Jutland to be met by SLS Denmark personnel and then shown over their storage depot for their  Arancia IRBs. Followed by a tour of the area and shown a typical west coast Jutland  beach.   This  beach stretches for 800 kms. and I thought our NZ beaches were long.   But they have some disturbing traps for swimmers and the unwary.  Water draining from the inland water ways and rivers flows under the beach sand  causing shifting channels or holes in the the sea floor. 

As these beaches are  very popular in the short summer, rapid rescue equipment is vital.
We were then driven over to Nyborg (Marine training establishment) to see Lifeguards going through final training and exams before becoming qualified Lifeguards.

Note Portable Lifeguard tower, and medical station. Can be completely disassembled at the end of the season. We would liked to have seen a bit of Nyborg City as this was the ancient Danish capital, in the time of the Vikings.

Thanks to all the Northern Lifeguards for their hospitality and time spent showing us around. Most enjoyable UK  National IRB Champs Bournemouth 7th October 2007 (date to be confirmed)

Safe boating
John Speight
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