Carrybridge RNLI Celebrates Key Training Milestones for Volunteer Crew
- Robert Stone
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Wednesday 13 May 2026
The RNLI lifeboat station at Carrybridge is celebrating a significant achievement for one of its volunteer crew members, as well as successful revalidations for two experienced helms.
Volunteer crew member Douglas McFarland has successfully completed his Tier 2 passout following a rigorous assessment process carried out earlier this week. During the same visit, Kyle Boyd successfully completed his Helm Revalidation, while Chris Cathcart had also completed his own revalidation during an earlier visit.
The assessments were conducted by Sean Ginnelly, Coastal Lifeboat Trainer, who travelled from Achill Island on behalf of the RNLI to oversee the evaluations.
Held on Tuesday, the Tier 2 passout took place both ashore at the lifeboat station and afloat on Upper Lough Erne and lasted approximately three hours. The comprehensive assessment tested operational competence across a wide range of key lifesaving skills, including towing procedures, man overboard recovery, emergency drills, helming, maritime theory, and other essential operational tasks.
The successful completion of the Tier 2 passout marks the culmination of years of intensive training for Douglas, who has dedicated hundreds of hours to afloat exercises, practical training sessions, and active service callouts in all weather conditions.
The RNLI’s updated revalidation process also requires helms to undergo reassessment every five years, both ashore and afloat, to ensure the continued safe operation of lifeboats and maintenance of the highest operational standards.
Carrybridge RNLI continues to invest heavily in the training and development of its volunteers across both afloat and shore-based roles as part of its ongoing mission to save lives on Lough Erne.
Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Lifeboat Training Coordinator, praised the commitment shown throughout the training process.
“I am very happy with the time and commitment taken by Douglas who has reached this milestone on his lifeboat journey,” he said. “Douglas completed his Tier 2 tasks to a very high standard during the final passout, and I wish him every success in his further progression.
“I’d also like to congratulate Kyle on a very successful helm revalidation carried out ashore and afloat today. The level of command witnessed today is a credit to his ability.”
Stephen Scott, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Carrybridge RNLI, also commended the dedication of the station’s volunteer crew.
“I’d like to thank Douglas on successfully completing his passout,” he said. “We are very fortunate to have a really dedicated volunteer crew at our station and I’m delighted that today we celebrate Douglas reaching this significant landmark.
“Chris and Kyle both play a pivotal role in the station at Carrybridge as Lifeboat Training Coordinator and Lifeboat Trainer Assessor respectively when it comes to teaching our other crew and I’d like to thank them for the many hours of work dedicated to training others.
“All RNLI crew train to an extremely high level and devote a lot of their time to our charity.”
