William Riley Completes Its Scottish Adventure

Published: Wednesday 12 August 2009

WHITBY'S historic lifeboat – the William Riley – has completed its 60-mile Scottish adventure.

The trip began on Sunday when the vessel entered the canal at Fort William at 5pm on Sunday before heading to Loch Ness, stopping off at Mallaig, Drumnadrochit and Kessock.

The lifeboat was rowed 60 miles by drinking buddies The Ales Angels including Ruswarp's Graham Chaddock and crew members from three of the lifeboat stations along the way.

The row had been carefully planned by the Angels to raise money for the RNLI in Scotland and they made it to their finish line on Wednesday at around 2pm.

Coxswain Pete Thomson told the Whitby Gazette the row had been fantastic.

"The whole thing has been a brilliant success.

"The Ales Angels have been amazing and the lifeboat crews that joined us have been great," he said.

"There were no problems along the way but there was quite a bit of wind which made the loch a bit rough but it did us a favour blowing us along at high speed."

Mr Thomson said at the end of the road they rowed along a canal and into a private boat yard where the boat was lifted out.

"All the way down there were cheers from people on the side of the canal.

"They were throwing money into the boat and and from pleasure cruisers on Loch Lomond."

The team are hoping to have raised at least 5,000 for the RNLI from their epic row.