Sea rescue craft up for grabs

Riversdale Beach Surf Life Saving Club needs your vote to help it win a new $25,000 inflatable rescue boat (IRB).

Volunteer lifeguards have been patrolling Riversdale Beach for 57 years and their orange IRBs are an essential part of their rescue equipment.

BP is offering every club around the country two chances to win a new IRB through a Vote for a Boat online competition.

The club with the most votes will win a $25,000 IRB and BP will donate another boat to a randomly selected club chosen through a second draw.

Club chairman Murray Brown said IRBs could often be the difference between life and death.

"These boats really are an essential part of our lifesaving armoury. Once someone's in trouble in the water, we know we only have about three minutes to get to them. Our IRBs get our lifeguards out beyond the waves and to their rescue incredibly quickly," he said.

"BP has been supporting us for 46 years, allowing us to acquire around 250 boats that patrol our coastline. Thanks to their support, we now have the most advanced rescue fleet in the world."

Club captain Mike Taylor said the club already planned to replace its existing old IRB as soon as possible. Members were planning more fundraising so winning the boat would be a great help. "A new boat's certainly in our programme at the moment," he said.

The competition will run until March 31 and the winners will be announced live on TVNZ's Breakfast show in the week after Easter.

Vote for Riversdale Beach Surf Life Saving Club at www.bpsurflifesaving.co.nz

Lifeguards will also be patrolling the beach between 12 and 5pm over Easter Weekend.

Support sought

Add your vote to help Riversdale Beach Surf Life Saving Club get a new rescue boat. Go to www.bpsurflifesaving.co.nz, and select central region to find Riversdale club.