On Friday, 3rd May 1867, the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette reported:
"The launch of the new lifeboat Victoria, took place on Monday....The crew consisted of twelve men (all belonging to the town and not coastguatds) by whom the boat was launched in capital style, and afterwards taken some distance out through the passage. The customary drill or exercise was got over in quick time, and the boat was found to be a very powerful one. She was afterwards capsized, and her crew treated to a ducking in the water. The mode of capsizing was merely the crew standing on the gunwale, and swaying her till she turned over. She righted immediately, and was afterwards hauled up and placed on her car in the boat house."
Not much new here , I have blogged the 1867 lifeboat before, except I felt I should share the delightful image of the twelve good men, all belonging to the town of Exmouth, standing along the gunwale and swaying themselves into the channel!
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