RNLI Atlantic 85 tractor launch and recovery

RNLI Redcar recently captured some excellent footage of their Atlantic 85 lifeboat, 'Leicester Challenge III', in launch and recovery with the Talus MB4H tractor. The helm would normally reverse the lifeboat into the carriage for recovery, but in rough conditions like those seen here, a 'net recovery' is used. The net catches the lifeboat while the crew members place harnesses on the cage so that the boat is not left behind when the tractor moves forward. The carriage can then be lifted and rotated 180 degrees so that they are ready to relaunch in just minutes. This year marks 100 years since the first tractor was used to pull a lifeboat, though it took a little while to be fully adopted, with the last horse-drawn lifeboat launching in 1936! For more information about the vehicles that launch our lifeboats, watch this film:    • Meet the fleet: the lifeboat launchers   Thumbnail image by Nigel Millard. SUPPORT OUR LIFESAVING WORK – http://bit.ly/RNLI_Donate VISIT OUR WEBSITE – http://bit.ly/RNLI_Web FACEBOOK – http://bit.ly/FacebookRNLI TWITTER – http://bit.ly/TwitterRNLI INSTAGRAM – http://bit.ly/InstagramRNLI LINKEDIN - http://bit.ly/LinkedInRNLI PINTEREST - http://bit.ly/PinterestRNLI SNAPCHAT - http://bit.ly/SnapchatRNLI The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, lifeboat crews around the UK and Ireland are ready to launch to help those in need. Whether you're stuck on a sinking ship, cut off by a rapidly rising tide, or in the water and close to drowning, RNLI crew members will drop everything to come to your rescue. 95% of RNLI lifeboat crews and station staff are volunteers. But it’s not just lifeboats. RNLI lifeguards patrol 248 beaches across the UK and Channel Islands, keeping people safe, providing safety advice and rescuing those in trouble. Education volunteers visit schools and swimming clubs to help teach the next generation how to enjoy the water safely. And volunteer fundraisers and shop workers give up their time to generate vital funds. The RNLI is also working to help communities around the world that are most at risk of drowning. If you spot someone in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard. - - Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney of West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ